Oral and maxillofacial surgery and facial fractures: coronectomy: 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 and maxillofacial surgery and facial fractures: coronectomy

Sample item

A 28-year-old needs a symptomatic mesioangular lower third molar removed. The panoramic radiograph shows darkening of the roots and loss of the cortical lines of the canal where the roots cross it. Which approach lowers the risk of permanent lip numbness?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Coronectomy, leaving the roots in place

When imaging suggests the roots are intimately related to the inferior alveolar nerve, removing only the crown leaves the roots undisturbed and protects the nerve.

Option by option

  • A. Routine extraction with bone removal around the roots

    Removing bone around the roots increases the risk of nerve injury.

  • B. Coronectomy, leaving the roots in place (correct)

    Correct. Leaving the roots avoids traction and injury of the nerve.

  • C. Extraction under general anaesthesia

    General anaesthesia does not change the anatomy or nerve risk.

  • D. Extraction by the lingual split technique

    The lingual split technique risks lingual nerve injury.

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, Coronectomy, leaving the roots in place. When imaging suggests the roots are intimately related to the inferior alveolar nerve, removing only the crown leaves the roots undisturbed and protects the nerve.

Why is "Routine extraction with bone removal around the roots" not the answer?

Removing bone around the roots increases the risk of nerve injury.

Why is "Extraction under general anaesthesia" not the answer?

General anaesthesia does not change the anatomy or nerve risk.

Why is "Extraction by the lingual split technique" not the answer?

The lingual split technique risks lingual nerve injury.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral and maxillofacial surgery and facial fractures: coronectomy in Dentistry. The correct option holds because: Correct. Leaving the roots avoids traction and injury of the nerve.

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 Oral and maxillofacial surgery and facial fractures: coronectomy?

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.