Oral pathology: cysts and odontogenic tumours: jaw changes in haemoglobinopathy: 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 · Oral pathology: cysts and odontogenic tumours: jaw changes in haemoglobinopathy

Sample item

A 12-year-old with severe beta thalassaemia major has a prominent maxilla, protruding upper incisors and spaced teeth. Which mechanism explains the facial change?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Marrow hyperplasia expanding the maxillary bone

Expansion of the erythroid marrow in the maxilla causes the characteristic chipmunk facies, with maxillary overgrowth, malocclusion and loss of the normal trabecular pattern on radiographs.

Option by option

  • A. Vitamin D deficiency

    Vitamin D deficiency causes rickets and delayed eruption.

  • B. Chronic thumb sucking

    Thumb sucking does not explain the bone expansion of the underlying disease.

  • C. Excess growth hormone

    Growth hormone excess causes prognathism and acral enlargement, not this picture.

  • D. Marrow hyperplasia expanding the maxillary bone (correct)

    Correct. Marrow hyperplasia expands the facial bones.

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, Marrow hyperplasia expanding the maxillary bone. Expansion of the erythroid marrow in the maxilla causes the characteristic chipmunk facies, with maxillary overgrowth, malocclusion and loss of the normal trabecular pattern on radiographs.

Why is "Vitamin D deficiency" not the answer?

Vitamin D deficiency causes rickets and delayed eruption.

Why is "Chronic thumb sucking" not the answer?

Thumb sucking does not explain the bone expansion of the underlying disease.

Why is "Excess growth hormone" not the answer?

Growth hormone excess causes prognathism and acral enlargement, not this picture.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral pathology: cysts and odontogenic tumours: jaw changes in haemoglobinopathy in Dentistry. The correct option holds because: Correct. Marrow hyperplasia expands the facial bones.

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 Oral pathology: cysts and odontogenic tumours: jaw changes in haemoglobinopathy?

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.