Do the exfoliating baby teeth shed only the crown, or do they retain root portions as they fall out?

Get ready for the Tooth Development and Shedding Test. Utilize flashcards and multiple-choice questions with hints and explanations. Enhance your preparation and ace the exam effortlessly!

Multiple Choice

Do the exfoliating baby teeth shed only the crown, or do they retain root portions as they fall out?

Explanation:
When a baby tooth exfoliates, its root is resorbed by the erupting permanent tooth. This resorption shortens the root by breaking down dentin and cementum, so the tooth loses its grip and becomes loose. Because root tissue is being dissolved during this process, the tooth often sheds with fragments of the root still attached, rather than shedding as a pure crown only. Enamel isn’t resorbed, so shedding enamel alone doesn’t occur.

When a baby tooth exfoliates, its root is resorbed by the erupting permanent tooth. This resorption shortens the root by breaking down dentin and cementum, so the tooth loses its grip and becomes loose. Because root tissue is being dissolved during this process, the tooth often sheds with fragments of the root still attached, rather than shedding as a pure crown only. Enamel isn’t resorbed, so shedding enamel alone doesn’t occur.

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