Tooth development and dental anatomy: mantle dentine: 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 · Tooth development and dental anatomy: mantle dentine

Sample item

The first-formed dentine of the crown lies immediately beneath the dentinoenamel junction. It contains large collagen fibres running perpendicular to the junction and is slightly less mineralised than the rest. What is it called?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Mantle dentine

Mantle dentine is the outer layer, about 15 to 20 micrometres thick, formed by newly differentiated odontoblasts. Its large von Korff fibres lie at right angles to the junction. The bulk of dentine, circumpulpal dentine, forms afterwards.

Option by option

  • A. Mantle dentine (correct)

    Correct. This outermost, first-formed layer with fibres perpendicular to the junction is mantle dentine.

  • B. Circumpulpal dentine

    Circumpulpal dentine makes up the bulk of the tooth and has finer fibres lying across the tubules.

  • C. Tertiary dentine

    Tertiary dentine forms in response to injury, not as the first-laid dentine.

  • D. Peritubular dentine

    Peritubular dentine is the highly mineralised cuff lining each tubule, not a layer.

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 A, Mantle dentine. Mantle dentine is the outer layer, about 15 to 20 micrometres thick, formed by newly differentiated odontoblasts.

Why is "Circumpulpal dentine" not the answer?

Circumpulpal dentine makes up the bulk of the tooth and has finer fibres lying across the tubules.

Why is "Tertiary dentine" not the answer?

Tertiary dentine forms in response to injury, not as the first-laid dentine.

Why is "Peritubular dentine" not the answer?

Peritubular dentine is the highly mineralised cuff lining each tubule, not a layer.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Tooth development and dental anatomy: mantle dentine in Dentistry. Its large von Korff fibres lie at right angles to the junction. The bulk of dentine, circumpulpal dentine, forms afterwards.

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 Tooth development and dental anatomy: mantle dentine?

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.