Oral surgery: inferior alveolar nerve injury: 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.

Try it

Dentistry · Oral surgery: inferior alveolar nerve injury

Sample item

After mandibular third-molar surgery, a patient has numbness of the lower lip and chin. Which nerve is most likely affected?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Inferior alveolar nerve

The inferior alveolar nerve gives rise to the mental nerve, which supplies sensation to the lower lip and chin. Its close relation to mandibular third-molar roots is clinically important.

Option by option

  • A. Inferior alveolar nerve (correct)

    Correct. Mental sensory loss localizes to the inferior alveolar nerve pathway.

  • B. Greater palatine nerve

    Greater palatine nerve supplies posterior hard palate.

  • C. Facial nerve

    Facial nerve supplies muscles of facial expression.

  • D. Lingual nerve only

    Lingual nerve injury affects anterior tongue sensation and taste.

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, Inferior alveolar nerve. The inferior alveolar nerve gives rise to the mental nerve, which supplies sensation to the lower lip and chin.

Why is "Greater palatine nerve" not the answer?

Greater palatine nerve supplies posterior hard palate.

Why is "Facial nerve" not the answer?

Facial nerve supplies muscles of facial expression.

Why is "Lingual nerve only" not the answer?

Lingual nerve injury affects anterior tongue sensation and taste.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral surgery: inferior alveolar nerve injury in Dentistry. Its close relation to mandibular third-molar roots is clinically important.

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 Oral surgery: inferior alveolar nerve injury?

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.