Number of deciduous teeth is

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2023

Explanation

Humans have 20 deciduous teeth, also known as primary or milk teeth.
This set consists of 10 teeth in the upper jaw (maxilla) and 10 in the lower jaw (mandible).
The dental formula for deciduous teeth is 212/212, representing 2 incisors, 1 canine, and 2 molars in each of the four quadrants.
These teeth begin to erupt around 6 months after birth and all have typically erupted by 3 years of age.
Deciduous teeth are eventually replaced by permanent teeth.

Option B: The number 24 does not correspond to any standard count of teeth in either the deciduous or permanent human dentition.
Option C: This is the number of permanent teeth if the four third molars (wisdom teeth) have not yet erupted or have been surgically removed.
Option D: This is the total number of teeth in a complete set of permanent (adult) dentition, not deciduous dentition.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Knowledge of human dentition, specifically the number of deciduous teeth as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses, especially in pediatric and community health settings, play a key role in educating parents about teething, proper oral hygiene for infants, and the normal process of transitioning to permanent teeth.
Assessing dental development is a part of routine pediatric check-ups. Understanding the expected number and type of teeth helps in identifying developmental delays or congenital anomalies.
What if? A 4-year-old child presents with only 18 teeth. The nurse should recognize this as a potential delay in eruption or congenitally missing teeth and recommend a dental consultation for further evaluation.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question from the subject of Anatomy and Physiology.
First, identify the key term in the question: 'deciduous teeth'.
Recall the definition and characteristics of deciduous teeth, which are also known as primary, milk, or baby teeth.
Remember the specific count for this set of teeth. The total number of deciduous teeth is 20.
Compare this number to the options provided. Differentiate it from the number of permanent teeth (32) to avoid a common mistake.
Select the option that matches the correct count.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Knowledge of human dentition, specifically the number of deciduous teeth.
Stem keywords: deciduous teeth, number
Lead-in keywords: BEST, MOST RELEVANT CLUE
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 Anatomy Grays 43e Vol 2 Part 1 p. 87-89

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