Oral and maxillofacial surgery and facial fractures: timing of alveolar bone grafting in cleft: 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 and maxillofacial surgery and facial fractures: timing of alveolar bone grafting in cleft

Sample item

A child with a unilateral cleft lip, palate and alveolar defect is being planned for secondary alveolar bone grafting. When is it ideally performed?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. In mixed dentition, before the canine erupts into the cleft

Secondary alveolar bone grafting is done during mixed dentition, usually when the canine root is about half to two-thirds formed, so the canine can erupt through the graft. It supports the teeth and closes the oronasal fistula.

Option by option

  • A. At palate repair around one year

    At palate repair the dentition has not formed enough for the graft to serve the canine.

  • B. At the time of the lip repair in infancy

    Grafting during infancy interferes with maxillary growth.

  • C. In mixed dentition, before the canine erupts into the cleft (correct)

    Correct. Grafting before canine eruption allows the tooth to erupt through the new bone.

  • D. In adulthood after growth is complete

    Waiting until adulthood misses the chance to guide canine eruption.

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, In mixed dentition, before the canine erupts into the cleft. Secondary alveolar bone grafting is done during mixed dentition, usually when the canine root is about half to two-thirds formed, so the canine can erupt through the graft.

Why is "At palate repair around one year" not the answer?

At palate repair the dentition has not formed enough for the graft to serve the canine.

Why is "At the time of the lip repair in infancy" not the answer?

Grafting during infancy interferes with maxillary growth.

Why is "In adulthood after growth is complete" not the answer?

Waiting until adulthood misses the chance to guide canine eruption.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral and maxillofacial surgery and facial fractures: timing of alveolar bone grafting in cleft in Dentistry. It supports the teeth and closes the oronasal fistula.

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 Oral and maxillofacial surgery and facial fractures: timing of alveolar bone grafting in cleft?

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.