HOSA Dental Terminology Practice

What term is used for the congenital absence of teeth?

1. Anodontia

2. Hypodontia

3. Enamel hypoplasia

4. Macrodontia

The correct answer is: Hypodontia

The correct term for the congenital absence of teeth is anodontia. Anodontia is a condition characterized by the complete lack of teeth, whereas hypodontia refers specifically to the condition where some teeth are missing, but not all. Hypodontia is a common dental anomaly in which one or more teeth (but not all) do not develop. In contrast, enamel hypoplasia is related to insufficient development of enamel, leading to defects in the tooth surface, and macrodontia refers to teeth that are abnormally large in size. These definitions clarify why anodontia is the accurate term for total absence of teeth, while the other terms reference different dental conditions.