HOSA Dental Terminology Practice

What is primary dentition?

1. The set of molars

2. The first set of teeth

3. The adult set of teeth

4. The temporary set of dental implants

The correct answer is: The first set of teeth

Primary dentition refers to the first set of teeth that typically erupts in childhood, also known as deciduous teeth or baby teeth. These teeth generally begin to emerge around six months of age and are crucial for a child's development, as they help with chewing, aesthetics, and speech development. This set of teeth usually consists of 20 teeth, including incisors, canines, and molars, and ultimately falls out to make way for the permanent set of teeth, known as secondary or adult dentition. Unlike the permanent teeth that follow, primary dentition is temporary and plays a significant role in guiding the proper positioning of those permanent teeth. The other options do not accurately represent the concept of primary dentition. The molars are just one type of tooth within the primary set, adult teeth refer to the subsequent set that replaces the primary teeth, and dental implants are not a part of natural dentition at all.