Oral and maxillofacial surgery and facial fractures: temporomandibular disorders: 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: temporomandibular disorders

Sample item

A 28-year-old woman has dull pain in front of the ear, worse on chewing, with tender masseter and temporalis muscles and a click on opening. MRI of the joint is normal. Which initial treatment is most appropriate?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Counselling, soft diet and an occlusal splint

Myofascial pain dysfunction is the commonest temporomandibular disorder and responds to conservative measures such as reassurance, jaw rest, analgesics and a splint. Surgery is reserved for structural disease that fails this approach.

Option by option

  • A. Total joint replacement

    Joint replacement is for end-stage structural disease.

  • B. Long-term opioids

    Opioids are not appropriate for a chronic benign muscle pain condition.

  • C. Counselling, soft diet and an occlusal splint (correct)

    Correct. Reversible conservative measures are first line.

  • D. Condylectomy

    Condylectomy is irreversible and not indicated with a normal joint.

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 C, Counselling, soft diet and an occlusal splint. Myofascial pain dysfunction is the commonest temporomandibular disorder and responds to conservative measures such as reassurance, jaw rest, analgesics and a splint.

Why is "Total joint replacement" not the answer?

Joint replacement is for end-stage structural disease.

Why is "Long-term opioids" not the answer?

Opioids are not appropriate for a chronic benign muscle pain condition.

Why is "Condylectomy" not the answer?

Condylectomy is irreversible and not indicated with a normal joint.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral and maxillofacial surgery and facial fractures: temporomandibular disorders in Dentistry. Surgery is reserved for structural disease that fails this approach.

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: temporomandibular disorders?

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.