Caries and periodontal disease: calculus: 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 and periodontal disease: calculus

Sample item

Dental calculus is best described as what?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Mineralised dental plaque

Calculus is plaque mineralised by calcium phosphate from saliva or gingival fluid. It forms most near salivary duct openings, such as lingual surfaces of lower incisors and buccal surfaces of upper molars, and provides a rough surface for plaque.

Option by option

  • A. Materia alba

    Materia alba is soft white bacterial and cellular debris.

  • B. Soft food debris

    Soft food debris is not mineralised.

  • C. Acquired pellicle

    The pellicle is a thin cell-free protein film.

  • D. Mineralised dental plaque (correct)

    Correct. It is calcified plaque.

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 D, Mineralised dental plaque. Calculus is plaque mineralised by calcium phosphate from saliva or gingival fluid.

Why is "Materia alba" not the answer?

Materia alba is soft white bacterial and cellular debris.

Why is "Soft food debris" not the answer?

Soft food debris is not mineralised.

Why is "Acquired pellicle" not the answer?

The pellicle is a thin cell-free protein film.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Caries and periodontal disease: calculus in Dentistry. It forms most near salivary duct openings, such as lingual surfaces of lower incisors and buccal surfaces of upper molars, and provides a rough surface for plaque.

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 and periodontal disease: calculus?

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.