Oral and maxillofacial surgery and facial fractures: Gow-Gates block: 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 · Oral and maxillofacial surgery and facial fractures: Gow-Gates block

Sample item

In a Gow-Gates mandibular block, the needle is directed towards the neck of the mandibular condyle. What is the advantage of this technique over the standard inferior alveolar block?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. A single injection also anaesthetises the lingual, mylohyoid, long buccal and auriculotemporal nerves

The Gow-Gates technique deposits solution near the condylar neck, blocking essentially the whole sensory distribution of the mandibular nerve with one injection. Its aspiration rate is low and it may succeed where a bifid canal or accessory innervation defeats the standard block. Onset is slightly slower.

Option by option

  • A. It is performed at the mental foramen to reach the incisors

    A mental foramen injection is a different technique that reaches the lip and anterior teeth.

  • B. A single injection also anaesthetises the lingual, mylohyoid, long buccal and auriculotemporal nerves (correct)

    Correct. The deposit near the condyle blocks the whole mandibular division sensory branches.

  • C. It anaesthetises only the inferior alveolar nerve with deeper pulpal effect

    The standard block, not this one, is limited mainly to the inferior alveolar and lingual nerves.

  • D. It anaesthetises the maxillary teeth through the tuberosity

    The maxillary tuberosity injection is the posterior superior alveolar block, a different nerve.

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 B, A single injection also anaesthetises the lingual, mylohyoid, long buccal and auriculotemporal nerves. The Gow-Gates technique deposits solution near the condylar neck, blocking essentially the whole sensory distribution of the mandibular nerve with one injection.

Why is "It is performed at the mental foramen to reach the incisors" not the answer?

A mental foramen injection is a different technique that reaches the lip and anterior teeth.

Why is "It anaesthetises only the inferior alveolar nerve with deeper pulpal…" not the answer?

The standard block, not this one, is limited mainly to the inferior alveolar and lingual nerves.

Why is "It anaesthetises the maxillary teeth through the tuberosity" not the answer?

The maxillary tuberosity injection is the posterior superior alveolar block, a different nerve.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral and maxillofacial surgery and facial fractures: Gow-Gates block in Dentistry. Its aspiration rate is low and it may succeed where a bifid canal or accessory innervation defeats the standard block. Onset is slightly slower.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 and maxillofacial surgery and facial fractures: Gow-Gates block?

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.