Community dentistry: Significant Caries Index: 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 · Community dentistry: Significant Caries Index

Sample item

A national survey finds a low mean DMFT but a few children carry most of the disease. Which index highlights this skewed distribution?

AThe community periodontal indexBSignificant Caries Index, the mean DMFT of the third of the population with the highest scoresCThe gingival indexDThe simplified oral hygiene index

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Significant Caries Index, the mean DMFT of the third of the population with the highest scores

The Significant Caries Index is the mean DMFT of the one third of the examined group with the highest caries scores. It draws attention to high-risk individuals hidden behind a low average. The other indices measure hygiene or periodontal status.

Option by option

A. The community periodontal index
The community periodontal index assesses periodontal status.
B. Significant Caries Index, the mean DMFT of the third of the population with the highest scores (correct)
Correct. It describes the most affected third.
C. The gingival index
The gingival index assesses gingival inflammation.
D. The simplified oral hygiene index
OHI-S measures debris and calculus.

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, Significant Caries Index, the mean DMFT of the third of the population with the highest scores. The Significant Caries Index is the mean DMFT of the one third of the examined group with the highest caries scores.

Why is "The community periodontal index" not the answer?

The community periodontal index assesses periodontal status.

Why is "The gingival index" not the answer?

The gingival index assesses gingival inflammation.

Why is "The simplified oral hygiene index" not the answer?

OHI-S measures debris and calculus.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Community dentistry: Significant Caries Index in Dentistry. It draws attention to high-risk individuals hidden behind a low average. The other indices measure hygiene or periodontal status.

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 Community dentistry: Significant Caries Index?

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.