Community dentistry: silver diamine fluoride: 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: silver diamine fluoride

Sample item

A 3-year-old with multiple cavitated lesions cannot cooperate for drilling. Which agent can arrest the caries, at the cost of black staining of the lesions?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Silver diamine fluoride

Silver diamine fluoride arrests active dentine caries through silver antibacterial action and fluoride remineralisation. The lesion turns black, which is the main drawback.

Option by option

  • A. Calcium hydroxide paste

    Calcium hydroxide stimulates reparative dentine in pulp therapy.

  • B. Chlorhexidine varnish

    Chlorhexidine varnish reduces bacteria but does not reliably arrest cavities.

  • C. Hydrogen peroxide

    Peroxide does not arrest caries.

  • D. Silver diamine fluoride (correct)

    Correct. SDF arrests caries and stains the lesion black.

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, Silver diamine fluoride. Silver diamine fluoride arrests active dentine caries through silver antibacterial action and fluoride remineralisation.

Why is "Calcium hydroxide paste" not the answer?

Calcium hydroxide stimulates reparative dentine in pulp therapy.

Why is "Chlorhexidine varnish" not the answer?

Chlorhexidine varnish reduces bacteria but does not reliably arrest cavities.

Why is "Hydrogen peroxide" not the answer?

Peroxide does not arrest caries.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Community dentistry: silver diamine fluoride in Dentistry. The lesion turns black, which is the main drawback.

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: silver diamine fluoride?

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.