DANB General Chairside Practice Test

Which teeth are typically considered succedaneous?

1. A) Incisors and canines

2. B) Molars

3. C) Primary teeth

4. D) Wisdom teeth

The correct answer is: A) Incisors and canines

The term "succedaneous" refers to teeth that replace or succeed primary teeth. In this context, incisors and canines are classified as succedaneous teeth because they emerge to take the place of primary incisors and canines as a child’s permanent teeth develop. In the structure of human dentition, primary teeth (also known as baby teeth) are eventually shed, and the permanent teeth that replace them fall under the category of succedaneous teeth. This replacement process typically involves the permanent incisors and canines, which develop in the same position as their primary counterparts. Molars, on the other hand, do not replace primary teeth; they are considered permanent teeth that erupt behind the primary dentition, with the first permanent molars often referred to as "six-year molars." Wisdom teeth, or third molars, also do not replace primary teeth and generally appear later in the dental development cycle. Thus, primary teeth are not categorized as succedaneous because they are the very teeth being replaced, and wisdom teeth do not replace any primary teeth either.