In most mammals, including humans, two sets of teeth are formed during their lives: the first set of temporary milk teeth or dentition, which is later replaced by a set of permanent or adult teeth. What is this type of dentition called?

1. A

   thecodont

2. B

   diphyodont

3. C

   pyloric

4. D

   fundic

Appeared in: UP CHO - 10 September 2021

Explanation

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• The term diphyodont describes organisms that have two successive sets of teeth in their lifetime.
• Humans are diphyodonts, with an initial set of 20 deciduous (milk) teeth followed by a set of 32 permanent (adult) teeth.
• The first set begins to erupt around 6 months of age and is later replaced by the permanent set, starting around 6 years of age.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option A: This term describes the attachment of teeth within deep bony sockets (alveoli) in the jaw, not the number of sets of teeth.
• Option C: This is an anatomical term referring to the pylorus, the region of the stomach that connects to the small intestine.
• Option D: This is an anatomical term referring to the fundus, the upper, rounded part of the stomach.

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Clinical Relevance

• Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Classification of dentition based on the number of sets of teeth as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
• Understanding the diphyodont nature of human teeth and the timing of eruption is crucial for pediatric nursing assessments, identifying developmental milestones, and providing anticipatory guidance to parents about teething and dental hygiene.
• Knowledge of tooth development helps in forensic medicine and archaeology for age estimation.
• What if? If a child experiences premature loss of a deciduous tooth due to trauma, the nurse must educate the parent on the potential for space-maintenance issues for the erupting permanent tooth and the need for a dental consultation.

How to Approach the Question

• First, identify the key concept in the question: the development of two sets of teeth (temporary and permanent) during a lifetime.
• Analyze the options based on their roots and definitions. The prefix 'di-' in 'diphyodont' means 'two', which directly relates to the 'two sets' mentioned in the question.
• Evaluate the other options to confirm they are incorrect. 'Thecodont' describes tooth attachment, not succession. 'Pyloric' and 'fundic' are terms related to the stomach.
• By eliminating the irrelevant and less specific options, conclude that 'diphyodont' is the precise term for having two sets of teeth.

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: Classification of dentition based on the number of sets of teeth.
• Stem keywords: two sets of teeth, temporary milk teeth, permanent adult teeth, dentition
• Lead-in keywords: What is this type of dentition called?

Question ID

Qfa2a3bZDB1Iilpx1QVrbg

Copy ID

Reference Book

E6 Anatomy Grays 43e Vol 2 Part 1 pp. 87-89, 89-91