HOSA Dental Terminology Practice

Which of the following are included in the classification of succedaneous teeth?

1. Molars

2. Incisors, canines, and premolars

3. Wisdom teeth

4. All teeth present in adults

The correct answer is: Incisors, canines, and premolars

Succedaneous teeth refer to the permanent teeth that replace primary (deciduous) teeth. This classification specifically includes the incisors, canines, and premolars, all of which develop in place of their respective primary teeth. The process of dental development involves primary teeth that eventually shed to make space for these permanent replacements. Therefore, the correct classification recognizes incisors, canines, and premolars as succedaneous because they serve as successors to the earlier, primary forms. In contrast, molars and wisdom teeth do not fit into this classification. Molars, for instance, do not replace any primary teeth; rather, they emerge after the primary teeth have fallen out and are considered non-succedaneous. Wisdom teeth, particularly the third molars, also follow this pattern as they typically erupt much later without any primary predecessors. Thus, the understanding of succedaneous teeth focuses on those permanent teeth that directly replace specific primary teeth, confirming that the inclusion of incisors, canines, and premolars in this classification is accurate.