If all teeth are missing in one arch, what term describes this condition?

Study for the Dental Assistant Terminology Test. Enhance your understanding with multiple choice questions alongside hints and explanations. Prepare thoroughly for your exam!

Multiple Choice

If all teeth are missing in one arch, what term describes this condition?

Explanation:
When an entire dental arch has no teeth, the term used is edentulous. It describes a complete lack of dentition in that arch, regardless of the cause. Anodontia also means no teeth, but it’s a specific congenital absence diagnosis, less commonly used for describing an individual arch. Hypodontia means missing only some teeth, not all, and supernumerary refers to extra teeth. So, for all teeth missing in one arch, edentulous is the best fit.

When an entire dental arch has no teeth, the term used is edentulous. It describes a complete lack of dentition in that arch, regardless of the cause. Anodontia also means no teeth, but it’s a specific congenital absence diagnosis, less commonly used for describing an individual arch. Hypodontia means missing only some teeth, not all, and supernumerary refers to extra teeth. So, for all teeth missing in one arch, edentulous is the best fit.

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