Is tooth shedding symmetrical?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. Sometimes
• D. Unknown

Answer: (A)

Tooth shedding tends to be bilateral and coordinated because each side of the jaw develops in parallel and the permanent successor beneath a deciduous tooth starts resorbing its root at roughly the same time on both sides. As the permanent tooth erupts, specialized cells resorb the root of the overlying deciduous tooth, and this resorption progresses in a synchronized way so corresponding teeth on opposite sides shed together. In normal development, this bilateral pattern makes shedding symmetrical.

Exceptions can occur if a tooth is damaged, if a permanent successor is missing or delayed, or if there are other disruptions, which can disturb symmetry. But under typical growth, the symmetry is the expected pattern. That’s why the best choice is Yes.