Periodontology: 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 · Periodontology

Sample item

What is dental plaque best described as?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. A structured microbial biofilm on tooth surfaces

Dental plaque is an organized biofilm of microorganisms embedded in a matrix on tooth surfaces; if not disrupted regularly, it promotes caries and inflammatory periodontal disease.

Option by option

  • A. A structured microbial biofilm on tooth surfaces (correct)

    Correct: plaque is a living structured microbial biofilm.

  • B. A sterile food stain only

    Plaque is not merely sterile staining from food.

  • C. A radiographic processing artifact

    Processing artifacts occur on images, not on teeth as plaque.

  • D. A layer of cortical bone

    Cortical bone is a skeletal tissue, not dental plaque.

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 A, A structured microbial biofilm on tooth surfaces. Dental plaque is an organized biofilm of microorganisms embedded in a matrix on tooth surfaces; if not disrupted regularly, it promotes caries and inflammatory periodontal disease.

Why is "A sterile food stain only" not the answer?

Plaque is not merely sterile staining from food.

Why is "A radiographic processing artifact" not the answer?

Processing artifacts occur on images, not on teeth as plaque.

Why is "A layer of cortical bone" not the answer?

Cortical bone is a skeletal tissue, not dental plaque.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Periodontology in Dentistry. The correct option holds because: Correct: plaque is a living structured microbial biofilm.

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 Periodontology?

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.