Endodontics: 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 · Endodontics

Sample item

Which pain pattern is most suggestive of irreversible pulpitis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Spontaneous lingering pain after thermal stimulus

Irreversible pulpitis often causes spontaneous or prolonged lingering pain after hot or cold stimuli because inflamed pulp is confined within rigid dentin; treatment commonly requires endodontic therapy or extraction.

Option by option

  • A. Spontaneous lingering pain after thermal stimulus (correct)

    Correct: lingering spontaneous thermal pain suggests irreversible pulpal inflammation.

  • B. No response to any stimulus in every case

    No response may occur with necrosis but is not the typical irreversible-pulpitis pattern.

  • C. Brief pain only on biting a hard seed

    Brief bite pain may reflect crack, restoration, or periodontal causes.

  • D. Painless gum bleeding during brushing

    Bleeding gums point more toward gingival inflammation.

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, Spontaneous lingering pain after thermal stimulus. Irreversible pulpitis often causes spontaneous or prolonged lingering pain after hot or cold stimuli because inflamed pulp is confined within rigid dentin; treatment commonly requires endodontic therapy or extraction.

Why is "No response to any stimulus in every case" not the answer?

No response may occur with necrosis but is not the typical irreversible-pulpitis pattern.

Why is "Brief pain only on biting a hard seed" not the answer?

Brief bite pain may reflect crack, restoration, or periodontal causes.

Why is "Painless gum bleeding during brushing" not the answer?

Bleeding gums point more toward gingival inflammation.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Endodontics in Dentistry. The correct option holds because: Correct: lingering spontaneous thermal pain suggests irreversible pulpal inflammation.

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 Endodontics?

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.