Maxillofacial surgery: Ludwig angina: 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 · Maxillofacial surgery: Ludwig angina

Sample item

A febrile patient with a decayed lower molar has a woody swelling of the floor of mouth, raised tongue, drooling and stridor. What is the immediate priority?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Securing the airway

Ludwig angina is bilateral cellulitis of the submandibular, sublingual and submental spaces, usually from a lower molar. Airway compromise is the main cause of death, so airway control comes first, followed by IV antibiotics and drainage.

Option by option

  • A. Starting oral antibiotics and discharge

    Oral antibiotics and discharge are unsafe in a patient with stridor.

  • B. Imaging before any intervention

    Imaging should not delay airway management.

  • C. Securing the airway (correct)

    Correct. Airway protection is the first priority.

  • D. Waiting for culture results

    Culture results take days and must not delay care.

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, Securing the airway. Ludwig angina is bilateral cellulitis of the submandibular, sublingual and submental spaces, usually from a lower molar.

Why is "Starting oral antibiotics and discharge" not the answer?

Oral antibiotics and discharge are unsafe in a patient with stridor.

Why is "Imaging before any intervention" not the answer?

Imaging should not delay airway management.

Why is "Waiting for culture results" not the answer?

Culture results take days and must not delay care.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Maxillofacial surgery: Ludwig angina in Dentistry. Airway compromise is the main cause of death, so airway control comes first, followed by IV antibiotics and drainage.

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 Maxillofacial surgery: Ludwig angina?

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.