Caries, pulp and periodontal disease: acute exacerbation of chronic apical periodontitis: 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.

Try it

Dentistry · Caries, pulp and periodontal disease: acute exacerbation of chronic apical periodontitis

Sample item

A patient with a known painless periapical radiolucency on a non-vital lower molar develops sudden severe pain, swelling and marked tenderness to percussion over two days. The radiolucency is now slightly larger. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Phoenix abscess

A Phoenix abscess is an acute flare-up of a pre-existing chronic apical lesion in a necrotic tooth. It presents with pain, swelling and percussion tenderness on top of a known radiolucency, and needs drainage and canal debridement.

Option by option

  • A. Condensing osteitis

    Condensing osteitis is a sclerotic bone reaction to low-grade inflammation and is not acutely painful.

  • B. Periapical cemental dysplasia

    Cemental dysplasia affects vital teeth and is asymptomatic.

  • C. Phoenix abscess (correct)

    Correct. An acute flare of a chronic periapical lesion in a necrotic tooth is a Phoenix abscess.

  • D. Reversible pulpitis

    Reversible pulpitis occurs in a vital pulp and does not produce a periapical radiolucency.

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.

More Dentistry questions

Questions about this Dentistry question

What is the answer to this Dentistry question?

The best answer is C, Phoenix abscess. A Phoenix abscess is an acute flare-up of a pre-existing chronic apical lesion in a necrotic tooth.

Why is "Condensing osteitis" not the answer?

Condensing osteitis is a sclerotic bone reaction to low-grade inflammation and is not acutely painful.

Why is "Periapical cemental dysplasia" not the answer?

Cemental dysplasia affects vital teeth and is asymptomatic.

Why is "Reversible pulpitis" not the answer?

Reversible pulpitis occurs in a vital pulp and does not produce a periapical radiolucency.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Caries, pulp and periodontal disease: acute exacerbation of chronic apical periodontitis in Dentistry. It presents with pain, swelling and percussion tenderness on top of a known radiolucency, and needs drainage and canal debridement.

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 Caries, pulp and periodontal disease: acute exacerbation of chronic apical periodontitis?

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.