Community dentistry: fluoride toothpaste strength: 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 · Community dentistry: fluoride toothpaste strength

Sample item

A paediatric dentist counsels parents on toothpaste for an adult. What concentration of fluoride do standard adult toothpastes contain?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. 1000 to 1500 ppm

Standard fluoride toothpaste contains about 1000 to 1500 ppm fluoride. High-fluoride pastes of 5000 ppm are prescribed for high-risk adults.

Option by option

  • A. 10,000 ppm

    10,000 ppm exceeds any toothpaste strength.

  • B. 100 ppm

    100 ppm is too low to be effective.

  • C. 5 ppm

    5 ppm is the level near that of drinking water.

  • D. 1000 to 1500 ppm (correct)

    Correct. This is the standard range.

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 D, 1000 to 1500 ppm. Standard fluoride toothpaste contains about 1000 to 1500 ppm fluoride.

Why is "10,000 ppm" not the answer?

10,000 ppm exceeds any toothpaste strength.

Why is "100 ppm" not the answer?

100 ppm is too low to be effective.

Why is "5 ppm" not the answer?

5 ppm is the level near that of drinking water.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Community dentistry: fluoride toothpaste strength in Dentistry. High-fluoride pastes of 5000 ppm are prescribed for high-risk adults.

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 Community dentistry: fluoride toothpaste strength?

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.