Oral and maxillofacial surgery and facial fractures: anaesthesia with limited mouth opening: 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 · Oral and maxillofacial surgery and facial fractures: anaesthesia with limited mouth opening

Sample item

A patient with severe trismus from an infected lower molar needs an inferior alveolar nerve block. Which technique can be used without opening the mouth widely?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Vazirani-Akinosi closed-mouth technique

The Vazirani-Akinosi technique is performed with the teeth in occlusion, so it suits patients with trismus. The needle passes along the medial border of the ramus into the pterygomandibular space.

Option by option

  • A. Mental nerve block

    A mental nerve block anaesthetises the lip and premolar region but not the molars.

  • B. Vazirani-Akinosi closed-mouth technique (correct)

    Correct. The closed-mouth approach is designed for limited opening.

  • C. Gow-Gates technique

    The Gow-Gates block requires the mouth to be opened wide.

  • D. Infraorbital nerve block

    An infraorbital block is for the upper anterior region.

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, Vazirani-Akinosi closed-mouth technique. The Vazirani-Akinosi technique is performed with the teeth in occlusion, so it suits patients with trismus.

Why is "Mental nerve block" not the answer?

A mental nerve block anaesthetises the lip and premolar region but not the molars.

Why is "Gow-Gates technique" not the answer?

The Gow-Gates block requires the mouth to be opened wide.

Why is "Infraorbital nerve block" not the answer?

An infraorbital block is for the upper anterior region.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral and maxillofacial surgery and facial fractures: anaesthesia with limited mouth opening in Dentistry. The needle passes along the medial border of the ramus into the pterygomandibular space.

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 Oral and maxillofacial surgery and facial fractures: anaesthesia with limited mouth opening?

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.