Community dentistry: Indian water fluoride limit: 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: Indian water fluoride limit

Sample item

According to the Bureau of Indian Standards, what is the desirable limit of fluoride in drinking water, with the maximum permissible limit when no alternative source exists?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. 1.0 mg/L desirable, 1.5 mg/L permissible

The BIS standard sets the acceptable limit at 1.0 mg/L, extendable to 1.5 mg/L in the absence of an alternative source. This also corresponds to the WHO guideline value of 1.5 mg/L.

Option by option

  • A. 0.1 mg/L desirable, 0.5 mg/L permissible

    These values are too low and below the optimum for caries prevention.

  • B. 2.5 mg/L desirable, 5 mg/L permissible

    2.5 mg/L would cause dental fluorosis.

  • C. 4 mg/L desirable, 8 mg/L permissible

    4 mg/L and above cause skeletal fluorosis.

  • D. 1.0 mg/L desirable, 1.5 mg/L permissible (correct)

    Correct. 1.0 mg/L and 1.5 mg/L are the Indian limits.

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 D, 1.0 mg/L desirable, 1.5 mg/L permissible. The BIS standard sets the acceptable limit at 1.

Why is "0.1 mg/L desirable, 0.5 mg/L permissible" not the answer?

These values are too low and below the optimum for caries prevention.

Why is "2.5 mg/L desirable, 5 mg/L permissible" not the answer?

2.5 mg/L would cause dental fluorosis.

Why is "4 mg/L desirable, 8 mg/L permissible" not the answer?

4 mg/L and above cause skeletal fluorosis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Community dentistry: Indian water fluoride limit in Dentistry. 0 mg/L, extendable to 1.5 mg/L in the absence of an alternative source. This also corresponds to the WHO guideline value of 1.5 mg/L.

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: Indian water fluoride limit?

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.