Caries, pulp and periodontal disease: preventing radiation caries: practice question

A Dentistry question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Dentistry · Caries, pulp and periodontal disease: preventing radiation caries

Sample item

A man has just completed radiotherapy for a tonsillar tumour with both parotids in the field. He now has a dry mouth. What is the most effective measure to prevent rampant cervical caries?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Daily topical fluoride with strict plaque control

Radiation damages salivary glands and the resulting hyposalivation leads to rapid cervical and root caries. Lifelong high-concentration topical fluoride, strict hygiene, diet advice and saliva substitutes are the mainstay of prevention.

Option by option

  • A. Frequent sugar-containing sweets to stimulate saliva

    Sugary sweets would add to the caries load in a dry mouth.

  • B. Daily topical fluoride with strict plaque control (correct)

    Correct. Topical fluoride and hygiene counter the effects of salivary loss.

  • C. Systemic fluoride tablets alone

    Fluoride tablets act mainly systemically and cannot replace topical fluoride in the dry mouth.

  • D. Routine prophylactic antibiotics

    Antibiotics do not prevent caries and promote resistance.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Dentistry question

What is the answer to this Dentistry question?

The best answer is B, Daily topical fluoride with strict plaque control. Radiation damages salivary glands and the resulting hyposalivation leads to rapid cervical and root caries.

Why is "Frequent sugar-containing sweets to stimulate saliva" not the answer?

Sugary sweets would add to the caries load in a dry mouth.

Why is "Systemic fluoride tablets alone" not the answer?

Fluoride tablets act mainly systemically and cannot replace topical fluoride in the dry mouth.

Why is "Routine prophylactic antibiotics" not the answer?

Antibiotics do not prevent caries and promote resistance.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Caries, pulp and periodontal disease: preventing radiation caries in Dentistry. Lifelong high-concentration topical fluoride, strict hygiene, diet advice and saliva substitutes are the mainstay of prevention.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Caries, pulp and periodontal disease: preventing radiation caries?

Learn the dental formula, eruption ages and tooth structure once, as tables. Then use the flashcards and the other Dentistry questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.