Caries and periodontal disease: necrotising gingivitis: 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 · Caries and periodontal disease: necrotising gingivitis

Sample item

A stressed 22-year-old smoker has painful bleeding gums, punched-out interdental papillae covered with grey slough and foul breath. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis

Punched-out papillae, grey pseudomembrane, spontaneous bleeding and fetor in a stressed smoker indicate acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis. It is associated with fusiform bacilli, spirochaetes and Prevotella intermedia, and responds to debridement and metronidazole.

Option by option

  • A. Primary herpetic gingivostomatitis

    Herpetic gingivostomatitis causes vesicles and diffuse gingival inflammation, mainly in children.

  • B. Acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis (correct)

    Correct. This is the classic presentation.

  • C. Desquamative gingivitis

    Desquamative gingivitis shows peeling gingiva from pemphigoid or lichen planus.

  • D. Pregnancy gingivitis

    Pregnancy gingivitis shows generalised enlargement without necrosis.

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 B, Acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis. Punched-out papillae, grey pseudomembrane, spontaneous bleeding and fetor in a stressed smoker indicate acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis.

Why is "Primary herpetic gingivostomatitis" not the answer?

Herpetic gingivostomatitis causes vesicles and diffuse gingival inflammation, mainly in children.

Why is "Desquamative gingivitis" not the answer?

Desquamative gingivitis shows peeling gingiva from pemphigoid or lichen planus.

Why is "Pregnancy gingivitis" not the answer?

Pregnancy gingivitis shows generalised enlargement without necrosis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Caries and periodontal disease: necrotising gingivitis in Dentistry. It is associated with fusiform bacilli, spirochaetes and Prevotella intermedia, and responds to debridement and metronidazole.

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 and periodontal disease: necrotising gingivitis?

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.