Maxillofacial surgery: dry socket: 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: dry socket

Sample item

Three days after molar extraction a patient has severe throbbing pain radiating to the ear, foul taste and an empty socket with exposed bone. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Alveolar osteitis (dry socket)

Dry socket results from loss or lysis of the blood clot, leaving bone exposed. Pain peaks 2 to 4 days after extraction. Management is irrigation and a medicated dressing with analgesia.

Option by option

  • A. Oroantral fistula

    An oroantral fistula presents with air or fluid passing into the nose.

  • B. Normal healing

    Normal healing does not cause severe pain.

  • C. Acute osteomyelitis

    Osteomyelitis presents with fever and purulence.

  • D. Alveolar osteitis (dry socket) (correct)

    Correct. Timing and exposed bone fit dry socket.

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.

More Dentistry questions

Questions about this Dentistry question

What is the answer to this Dentistry question?

The best answer is D, Alveolar osteitis (dry socket). Dry socket results from loss or lysis of the blood clot, leaving bone exposed.

Why is "Oroantral fistula" not the answer?

An oroantral fistula presents with air or fluid passing into the nose.

Why is "Normal healing" not the answer?

Normal healing does not cause severe pain.

Why is "Acute osteomyelitis" not the answer?

Osteomyelitis presents with fever and purulence.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Maxillofacial surgery: dry socket in Dentistry. Pain peaks 2 to 4 days after extraction. Management is irrigation and a medicated dressing with analgesia.

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: dry socket?

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.