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Oral Surgery · single question

When raising a flap for surgical removal of a mandibular third molar, where must the flap margin finish?

  1. In solid cortical bone (in solid tissue with bone support)
  2. At the mucogingival junction
  3. In the middle of the buccal mucosa
  4. At the gingival margin of the adjacent second molar
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Correct answer: A. In solid cortical bone (in solid tissue with bone support)

  • A. Correct. A surgical flap for third molar removal must be a FULL-THICKNESS (mucoperiosteal) flap, and the flap margins must be positioned over sound, healthy bone for proper healing and suture support. Placing incision lines over a bony defect, socket, or unsupported tissue leads to dehiscence and poor healing.
  • B. The mucogingival junction may not have adequate bone support directly beneath it.
  • C. The middle of buccal mucosa has no bone support — sutures here would not hold.
  • D. The gingival margin alone is not sufficient to define where the flap should 'finish' — bone support matters.

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