Odontogenic infection: 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 · Odontogenic infection

Sample item

Which feature of a dental infection requires emergency escalation because of potential airway risk?

AA stable small filling defectBRapidly spreading floor-of-mouth swelling with difficulty swallowingCMild transient cold sensitivityDA chipped incisor without pain

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Rapidly spreading floor-of-mouth swelling with difficulty swallowing

Rapid submandibular or floor-of-mouth swelling with dysphagia, voice change, drooling, or breathing difficulty can threaten the airway and requires urgent emergency assessment rather than routine dental follow-up.

Option by option

A. A stable small filling defect
A stable filling defect may need dental care but is not an airway emergency.
B. Rapidly spreading floor-of-mouth swelling with difficulty swallowing (correct)
Correct: spreading oral-floor swelling and dysphagia can signal airway-threatening infection.
C. Mild transient cold sensitivity
Transient cold sensitivity is usually assessed nonemergently.
D. A chipped incisor without pain
A painless chipped tooth generally does not threaten the airway.

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.

Questions about this Dentistry question

What is the answer to this Dentistry question?

The best answer is B, Rapidly spreading floor-of-mouth swelling with difficulty swallowing. Rapid submandibular or floor-of-mouth swelling with dysphagia, voice change, drooling, or breathing difficulty can threaten the airway and requires urgent emergency assessment rather than routine dental follow-up.

Why is "A stable small filling defect" not the answer?

A stable filling defect may need dental care but is not an airway emergency.

Why is "Mild transient cold sensitivity" not the answer?

Transient cold sensitivity is usually assessed nonemergently.

Why is "A chipped incisor without pain" not the answer?

A painless chipped tooth generally does not threaten the airway.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Odontogenic infection in Dentistry. The correct option holds because: Correct: spreading oral-floor swelling and dysphagia can signal airway-threatening infection.

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 Odontogenic infection?

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.