Caries, pulp and periodontal disease: abrasion: 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, pulp and periodontal disease: abrasion

Sample item

A 50-year-old right-handed man who brushes vigorously horizontally has V-shaped notches at the necks of left-sided upper premolars. What best describes this lesion?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Toothbrush abrasion

Abrasion is wear caused by an external mechanical agent, such as aggressive brushing, producing smooth wedge-shaped cervical notches. Attrition is wear from tooth-to-tooth contact.

Option by option

  • A. Erosion from acid reflux

    Erosion from reflux affects palatal surfaces in a diffuse pattern.

  • B. Attrition

    Attrition affects occlusal and incisal surfaces from tooth contact.

  • C. Toothbrush abrasion (correct)

    Correct. Cervical notches from brushing are abrasion.

  • D. Caries

    Caries shows softened discoloured dentine, not smooth hard notches.

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.

More Dentistry questions

Questions about this Dentistry question

What is the answer to this Dentistry question?

The best answer is C, Toothbrush abrasion. Abrasion is wear caused by an external mechanical agent, such as aggressive brushing, producing smooth wedge-shaped cervical notches.

Why is "Erosion from acid reflux" not the answer?

Erosion from reflux affects palatal surfaces in a diffuse pattern.

Why is "Attrition" not the answer?

Attrition affects occlusal and incisal surfaces from tooth contact.

Why is "Caries" not the answer?

Caries shows softened discoloured dentine, not smooth hard notches.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Caries, pulp and periodontal disease: abrasion in Dentistry. Attrition is wear from tooth-to-tooth contact.

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, pulp and periodontal disease: abrasion?

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.