Oral and maxillofacial surgery: timing of cleft lip repair: 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: timing of cleft lip repair

Sample item

A newborn has a unilateral complete cleft lip, normal weight and no other abnormality. According to the rule of tens, at what age is the lip repair usually done?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. About 10 weeks, with weight of 10 pounds and haemoglobin 10 g/dL

The rule of tens suggests repair at about 10 weeks of age, weighing at least 10 pounds, with haemoglobin 10 g/dL. Many centres operate at 3 months, which is consistent with this rule.

Option by option

  • A. About 10 weeks, with weight of 10 pounds and haemoglobin 10 g/dL (correct)

    Correct. Around 10 weeks with weight and haemoglobin criteria is standard.

  • B. At school entry

    School entry is far too late for lip repair.

  • C. Immediately after birth

    Neonatal repair is generally avoided because of anaesthetic risk and small size.

  • D. At 2 years

    Waiting 2 years delays feeding and speech development.

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, About 10 weeks, with weight of 10 pounds and haemoglobin 10 g/dL. The rule of tens suggests repair at about 10 weeks of age, weighing at least 10 pounds, with haemoglobin 10 g/dL.

Why is "At school entry" not the answer?

School entry is far too late for lip repair.

Why is "Immediately after birth" not the answer?

Neonatal repair is generally avoided because of anaesthetic risk and small size.

Why is "At 2 years" not the answer?

Waiting 2 years delays feeding and speech development.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral and maxillofacial surgery: timing of cleft lip repair in Dentistry. Many centres operate at 3 months, which is consistent with this rule.

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: timing of cleft lip repair?

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.