National Dental Assisting Examining Board (NDAEB) Practice Exam

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Prepare for the National Dental Assisting Exam with comprehensive quiz questions, including multiple choice and detailed explanations. Equip yourself for success!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

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What is true regarding the occlusion of erupting permanent teeth?

  1. It is solely dependent on the strength of the primary teeth.

  2. It is independent of the primary teeth.

  3. It depends on the occlusion of the primary teeth as they are shed.

  4. It is only relevant for the first molars.

The correct answer is: It depends on the occlusion of the primary teeth as they are shed.

Erupting permanent teeth are significantly influenced by the occlusion of the primary teeth. As the primary teeth are shed, they create space and guidance for the eruption of the permanent teeth. The relationship between the primary and permanent teeth during this transition is crucial for ensuring that the permanent teeth erupt into proper alignment and occlusion. The nature of this relationship is essential, as any malocclusion or premature loss of primary teeth can disrupt the intended pathway for the eruption of the corresponding permanent teeth. The primary teeth serve as a guide and help maintain the necessary space until the permanent teeth are ready to emerge. Therefore, the occlusion of the primary teeth has a direct impact on how the permanent teeth will align and occlude once they erupt, making the influence of primary teeth significantly important during this developmental stage.