Paediatric dentistry: early childhood caries: 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 · Paediatric dentistry: early childhood caries

Sample item

A 2-year-old who sleeps with a milk bottle has decayed upper incisors, but the lower incisors are spared. What best explains this?

ALower incisors erupt later than upper incisorsBThe tongue shields them and saliva from submandibular and sublingual ducts bathes themCThe bottle nipple covers the lower incisorsDLower incisors have harder enamel

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. The tongue shields them and saliva from submandibular and sublingual ducts bathes them

In nursing caries, milk pools around the upper incisors, while the lower incisors are protected by the tongue and the flow of saliva from the submandibular and sublingual duct openings. Molars and canines are involved later.

Option by option

A. Lower incisors erupt later than upper incisors
Lower incisors erupt earlier than the upper incisors.
B. The tongue shields them and saliva from submandibular and sublingual ducts bathes them (correct)
Correct. Tongue position and salivary flow protect the lower incisors.
C. The bottle nipple covers the lower incisors
The nipple lies on the tongue and palate, not over the lower incisors.
D. Lower incisors have harder enamel
Enamel hardness is similar between upper and lower incisors.

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.

Questions about this Dentistry question

What is the answer to this Dentistry question?

The best answer is B, The tongue shields them and saliva from submandibular and sublingual ducts bathes them. In nursing caries, milk pools around the upper incisors, while the lower incisors are protected by the tongue and the flow of saliva from the submandibular and sublingual duct openings.

Why is "Lower incisors erupt later than upper incisors" not the answer?

Lower incisors erupt earlier than the upper incisors.

Why is "The bottle nipple covers the lower incisors" not the answer?

The nipple lies on the tongue and palate, not over the lower incisors.

Why is "Lower incisors have harder enamel" not the answer?

Enamel hardness is similar between upper and lower incisors.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Paediatric dentistry: early childhood caries in Dentistry. Molars and canines are involved later.

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 Paediatric dentistry: early childhood caries?

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.