Caries and periodontal disease: pregnancy epulis: 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: pregnancy epulis

Sample item

A woman in her second trimester has a soft, red, bleeding sessile nodule on an interdental papilla that has enlarged rapidly. Which lesion is most likely?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Pyogenic granuloma (pregnancy epulis)

Pregnancy epulis is a pyogenic granuloma, a vascular reactive lesion exaggerated by hormonal changes and plaque. It bleeds easily and often regresses after delivery, so excision is delayed unless troublesome.

Option by option

  • A. Peripheral ossifying fibroma

    Peripheral ossifying fibroma is firmer and not tied to pregnancy.

  • B. Fibroma

    A fibroma is pink, firm and slow-growing.

  • C. Squamous cell carcinoma

    Carcinoma is unlikely in this setting.

  • D. Pyogenic granuloma (pregnancy epulis) (correct)

    Correct. Soft, red, bleeding and hormonally driven.

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, Pyogenic granuloma (pregnancy epulis). Pregnancy epulis is a pyogenic granuloma, a vascular reactive lesion exaggerated by hormonal changes and plaque.

Why is "Peripheral ossifying fibroma" not the answer?

Peripheral ossifying fibroma is firmer and not tied to pregnancy.

Why is "Fibroma" not the answer?

A fibroma is pink, firm and slow-growing.

Why is "Squamous cell carcinoma" not the answer?

Carcinoma is unlikely in this setting.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Caries and periodontal disease: pregnancy epulis in Dentistry. It bleeds easily and often regresses after delivery, so excision is delayed unless troublesome.

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 Caries and periodontal disease: pregnancy epulis?

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.