Caries and periodontal disease: aggressive periodontitis: 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: aggressive periodontitis

Sample item

A healthy 16-year-old has rapid attachment loss around first molars and incisors with a family history. Which organism is most strongly associated?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans

Localised aggressive periodontitis in young people is strongly linked to A. actinomycetemcomitans, which produces a leukotoxin. Treatment combines debridement with systemic antibiotics.

Option by option

  • A. Candida albicans

    Candida is a fungal cause of thrush.

  • B. Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (correct)

    Correct. It is the key organism in this form.

  • C. Streptococcus mutans

    S. mutans is the main caries organism.

  • D. Staphylococcus aureus

    S. aureus is not the usual periodontal pathogen.

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 B, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. Localised aggressive periodontitis in young people is strongly linked to A.

Why is "Candida albicans" not the answer?

Candida is a fungal cause of thrush.

Why is "Streptococcus mutans" not the answer?

S. mutans is the main caries organism.

Why is "Staphylococcus aureus" not the answer?

S. aureus is not the usual periodontal pathogen.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Caries and periodontal disease: aggressive periodontitis in Dentistry. actinomycetemcomitans, which produces a leukotoxin. Treatment combines debridement with systemic antibiotics.

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: aggressive periodontitis?

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.