Community dentistry: Hopewood House study: 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: Hopewood House study

Sample item

In the Hopewood House study of children in Australia, low caries was associated with a diet low in refined sugar and high in unrefined foods. What happened when the children left the institution?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Their caries rate rose towards that of other children

The Hopewood House study showed very low caries experience in children on a controlled natural diet with little refined sugar. After they left and ate a normal diet, caries increased, supporting the role of sugar in caries. The study is cited as evidence for dietary control.

Option by option

  • A. They developed dental fluorosis

    Fluorosis comes from excess fluoride during tooth formation, which was not the issue.

  • B. Their caries rate rose towards that of other children (correct)

    Correct. Caries rose once they ate a normal diet, supporting the role of refined sugar.

  • C. Their caries rate fell even further

    Caries could not fall below the already very low level, and it rose instead.

  • D. Their caries rate stayed near zero for life

    Protection was dietary and not permanent, so caries did not stay near zero.

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, Their caries rate rose towards that of other children. The Hopewood House study showed very low caries experience in children on a controlled natural diet with little refined sugar.

Why is "They developed dental fluorosis" not the answer?

Fluorosis comes from excess fluoride during tooth formation, which was not the issue.

Why is "Their caries rate fell even further" not the answer?

Caries could not fall below the already very low level, and it rose instead.

Why is "Their caries rate stayed near zero for life" not the answer?

Protection was dietary and not permanent, so caries did not stay near zero.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Community dentistry: Hopewood House study in Dentistry. After they left and ate a normal diet, caries increased, supporting the role of sugar in caries. The study is cited as evidence for dietary control.

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 Community dentistry: Hopewood House study?

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.