Periodontics · single question
A patient smokes 60 cigarettes/day, is an IV drug user, has heavy plaque and loss of interdental papillae. Most likely diagnosis:
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Correct answer: C. Necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis
- A. Chronic periodontitis progresses slowly without the punched-out necrotic papillae.
- B. Aggressive periodontitis affects younger patients with rapid attachment loss but typically not this necrotic/blunted-papillae, heavy-risk-factor picture.
- C. Correct. Heavy smoking, immunocompromise/IV drug use, and loss/cratering of interdental papillae point to necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis (NUP).
- D. Gingivitis lacks the papillary necrosis/attachment destruction described.