Community dentistry: calculating DMFT: 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: calculating DMFT

Sample item

A 12-year-old has two teeth with active decay, one tooth extracted because of caries, three teeth with fillings, and one tooth extracted for orthodontic reasons. What is the DMFT score?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. 6

DMFT counts decayed, missing (due to caries) and filled permanent teeth. Here 2 decayed plus 1 missing from caries plus 3 filled equals 6. A tooth removed for orthodontic reasons is not counted, because the index records caries experience only.

Option by option

  • A. 6 (correct)

    Correct. 2 decayed, 1 missing from caries and 3 filled give 6.

  • B. 5

    This omits the tooth missing because of caries.

  • C. 7

    This wrongly counts the orthodontic extraction as a missing tooth.

  • D. 3

    This counts the filled teeth only and omits the decayed and missing teeth.

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, 6. DMFT counts decayed, missing (due to caries) and filled permanent teeth.

Why is "5" not the answer?

This omits the tooth missing because of caries.

Why is "7" not the answer?

This wrongly counts the orthodontic extraction as a missing tooth.

Why is "3" not the answer?

This counts the filled teeth only and omits the decayed and missing teeth.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Community dentistry: calculating DMFT in Dentistry. Here 2 decayed plus 1 missing from caries plus 3 filled equals 6. A tooth removed for orthodontic reasons is not counted, because the index records caries experience only.

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: calculating DMFT?

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.