Oral histology and anatomy: secondary dentine: 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 histology and anatomy: secondary dentine

Sample item

Radiographs of an elderly patient's teeth show smaller pulp chambers than in a young adult, with no caries. Which process best explains this?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Continued physiological deposition of secondary dentine

Odontoblasts persist after tooth eruption and continue to lay dentine slowly throughout life. This gradually narrows the pulp chamber and canals with age.

Option by option

  • A. Continued physiological deposition of secondary dentine (correct)

    Correct. Secondary dentine forms slowly after root completion and shrinks the pulp space.

  • B. Rapid formation of tertiary dentine from caries

    Tertiary dentine forms locally in response to caries or trauma, and none is present here.

  • C. Resorption of pulp by osteoclasts

    Osteoclasts do not remove pulp tissue in normal ageing.

  • D. Overgrowth of cementum into the pulp

    Cementum covers the root surface and does not grow into the pulp space.

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 A, Continued physiological deposition of secondary dentine. Odontoblasts persist after tooth eruption and continue to lay dentine slowly throughout life.

Why is "Rapid formation of tertiary dentine from caries" not the answer?

Tertiary dentine forms locally in response to caries or trauma, and none is present here.

Why is "Resorption of pulp by osteoclasts" not the answer?

Osteoclasts do not remove pulp tissue in normal ageing.

Why is "Overgrowth of cementum into the pulp" not the answer?

Cementum covers the root surface and does not grow into the pulp space.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral histology and anatomy: secondary dentine in Dentistry. This gradually narrows the pulp chamber and canals with age.

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 histology and anatomy: secondary dentine?

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.