Oral pathology: cysts and odontogenic tumours: periapical cemento-osseous dysplasia: 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 pathology: cysts and odontogenic tumours: periapical cemento-osseous dysplasia

Sample item

A 50-year-old woman has asymptomatic radiolucencies at the apices of three mandibular incisors found on a routine film. All three teeth respond normally to pulp testing. What is the correct management?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Reassure and review, since no treatment is needed

Periapical cemento-osseous dysplasia is a benign reactive fibro-osseous lesion at the apices of vital teeth, mostly in middle-aged women. Vitality testing separates it from periapical disease. It is self-limiting, so no treatment or biopsy is needed.

Option by option

  • A. Root canal treatment of all three teeth

    Root canal treatment is unnecessary because the pulps are vital.

  • B. Apicectomy of the incisors

    Apicectomy is for persistent periapical disease of non-vital teeth.

  • C. Reassure and review, since no treatment is needed (correct)

    Correct. Vital teeth with these apical changes need observation only.

  • D. Incisional biopsy and enucleation

    Biopsy and enucleation are unnecessary, and surgery of this lesion can lead to infection.

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 C, Reassure and review, since no treatment is needed. Periapical cemento-osseous dysplasia is a benign reactive fibro-osseous lesion at the apices of vital teeth, mostly in middle-aged women.

Why is "Root canal treatment of all three teeth" not the answer?

Root canal treatment is unnecessary because the pulps are vital.

Why is "Apicectomy of the incisors" not the answer?

Apicectomy is for persistent periapical disease of non-vital teeth.

Why is "Incisional biopsy and enucleation" not the answer?

Biopsy and enucleation are unnecessary, and surgery of this lesion can lead to infection.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral pathology: cysts and odontogenic tumours: periapical cemento-osseous dysplasia in Dentistry. Vitality testing separates it from periapical disease. It is self-limiting, so no treatment or biopsy is needed.

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 pathology: cysts and odontogenic tumours: periapical cemento-osseous dysplasia?

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.