Oral and maxillofacial surgery: medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw: 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: medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw

Sample item

A woman with breast cancer metastases receiving monthly zoledronic acid has exposed bone in the mandible for 8 weeks after a molar extraction, with no radiotherapy history. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw

Antiresorptive drugs such as bisphosphonates and denosumab suppress bone remodelling, and dental extraction can precipitate exposed necrotic bone. Prevention involves dental review before therapy.

Option by option

  • A. Osteoradionecrosis

    Osteoradionecrosis requires prior head and neck radiotherapy.

  • B. Ameloblastoma

    Ameloblastoma is a tumour that shows a radiolucency and not exposed bone.

  • C. Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (correct)

    Correct. Antiresorptive exposure with exposed bone for over 8 weeks defines the condition.

  • D. Chronic periodontitis

    Periodontitis does not give exposed necrotic bone after extraction.

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, Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw. Antiresorptive drugs such as bisphosphonates and denosumab suppress bone remodelling, and dental extraction can precipitate exposed necrotic bone.

Why is "Osteoradionecrosis" not the answer?

Osteoradionecrosis requires prior head and neck radiotherapy.

Why is "Ameloblastoma" not the answer?

Ameloblastoma is a tumour that shows a radiolucency and not exposed bone.

Why is "Chronic periodontitis" not the answer?

Periodontitis does not give exposed necrotic bone after extraction.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral and maxillofacial surgery: medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw in Dentistry. Prevention involves dental review before therapy.

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: medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw?

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.