Dental radiology: lamina dura: 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 · Dental radiology: lamina dura

Sample item

Periapical films of a patient with raised calcium and recurrent renal stones show generalised loss of the lamina dura. What is the likely cause?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Hyperparathyroidism

The lamina dura is the radiopaque cortical lining of the tooth socket. Generalised loss, with a ground-glass trabecular pattern and brown tumours, is a classic jaw sign of hyperparathyroidism.

Option by option

  • A. Paget disease of bone

    Paget disease gives cotton-wool bone and hypercementosis.

  • B. Osteopetrosis

    Osteopetrosis produces dense bone.

  • C. Dental fluorosis

    Fluorosis causes enamel mottling, not loss of lamina dura.

  • D. Hyperparathyroidism (correct)

    Correct. Bone resorption in hyperparathyroidism erases the lamina dura.

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 D, Hyperparathyroidism. The lamina dura is the radiopaque cortical lining of the tooth socket.

Why is "Paget disease of bone" not the answer?

Paget disease gives cotton-wool bone and hypercementosis.

Why is "Osteopetrosis" not the answer?

Osteopetrosis produces dense bone.

Why is "Dental fluorosis" not the answer?

Fluorosis causes enamel mottling, not loss of lamina dura.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Dental radiology: lamina dura in Dentistry. Generalised loss, with a ground-glass trabecular pattern and brown tumours, is a classic jaw sign of hyperparathyroidism.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Dental radiology: lamina dura?

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.