HOSA Dental Terminology Practice

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Master HOSA Dental terminology with interactive quizzes and multiple-choice questions. Study with confidence and enhance your ability for exam success and knowledge expansion. Prepare effectively and achieve your certification goals.

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 the term for tooth loss that causes teeth to shift and lose position?

Dental crowding
Early tooth exfoliation
Malocclusion
Impaction

The correct answer is: Early tooth exfoliation

The term that accurately describes tooth loss leading to teeth shifting and losing position is early tooth exfoliation. Exfoliation in a dental context refers to the natural process of baby teeth falling out to make way for permanent teeth. When this occurs prematurely, it can disrupt the normal alignment and position of other teeth, potentially leading to shifting or crowding. While dental crowding does involve teeth being misaligned due to limited space, it typically pertains to the overcrowding of teeth due to the presence of all teeth rather than loss. Malocclusion refers to a misalignment of bite or teeth, which may be a consequence of shifting teeth, but it is not specifically about the cause of tooth loss itself. Impacted teeth are those that are unable to properly erupt into the dental arch, often due to obstruction. They do not directly relate to the phenomenon of teeth shifting following loss.