Maxillofacial surgery: cleft palate repair: 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 · Maxillofacial surgery: cleft palate repair

Sample item

At what age is surgical repair of an isolated cleft palate usually done to support normal speech development?

A5 yearsB9 to 12 monthsCFirst week of lifeD3 years

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. 9 to 12 months

Palatoplasty is typically done at about 9 to 12 months, before speech develops, to allow normal palatal function. Cleft lip repair is done earlier, at about 3 months.

Option by option

A. 5 years
Repair at 5 years would leave long-term speech problems.
B. 9 to 12 months (correct)
Correct. This timing precedes speech development.
C. First week of life
A newborn is too young for definitive repair.
D. 3 years
At 3 years speech patterns are already established.

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.

Questions about this Dentistry question

What is the answer to this Dentistry question?

The best answer is B, 9 to 12 months. Palatoplasty is typically done at about 9 to 12 months, before speech develops, to allow normal palatal function.

Why is "5 years" not the answer?

Repair at 5 years would leave long-term speech problems.

Why is "First week of life" not the answer?

A newborn is too young for definitive repair.

Why is "3 years" not the answer?

At 3 years speech patterns are already established.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Maxillofacial surgery: cleft palate repair in Dentistry. Cleft lip repair is done earlier, at about 3 months.

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 Maxillofacial surgery: cleft palate repair?

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.