HOSA Dental Terminology Practice

What describes the union of two independently developing teeth?

1. Dentinogenesis imperfecta

2. Fusion of teeth

3. Anodontia

4. Hypodontia

The correct answer is: Fusion of teeth

The union of two independently developing teeth is referred to as fusion of teeth. This condition occurs when two tooth buds merge during development, resulting in a single larger tooth that may have a common root or a shared pulp chamber. Fusion can lead to a variety of dental anomalies, including changes in the tooth's appearance and possible complications with alignment or eruption. Dentinogenesis imperfecta pertains to a genetic disorder affecting the development of dentin, the hard tissue underneath enamel, leading to discolored and weak teeth but does not involve the merging of two separate teeth. Anodontia describes the absence of teeth, either partially or completely, which is a completely different condition. Hypodontia refers to the developmental absence of one or more teeth, but again, this does not involve the merging of tooth structures. Thus, the correct answer, fusion of teeth, accurately describes the specific dental phenomenon in question.