What is a common consequence of ankylosis?

What is a common consequence of ankylosis?

• A. Delayed eruption of primary teeth
• B. Delayed shedding of primary teeth
• C. Prolonged retention of secondary teeth
• D. Increased risk of dental caries

Answer: (B)

In the context of dental health, ankylosis refers to the abnormal fusion of the tooth's root to the surrounding bone, which can significantly impact the normal eruption and shedding of teeth. When primary teeth become ankylosed, they often do not shed at the appropriate time, leading to a condition where the primary teeth remain in place longer than they should. This prolonged retention of primary teeth can create complications for the eruption of secondary (permanent) teeth, as they may become misaligned or impacted due to the presence of the retained primary teeth. While all the answer choices relate to issues that could arise in a dental context, the specific consequence of ankylosis in this scenario focuses on the delayed shedding of primary teeth. The fusion to the bone restricts the natural process of tooth exfoliation, making course B the reasoning behind the right answer.

In the context of dental health, ankylosis refers to the abnormal fusion of the tooth's root to the surrounding bone, which can significantly impact the normal eruption and shedding of teeth. When primary teeth become ankylosed, they often do not shed at the appropriate time, leading to a condition where the primary teeth remain in place longer than they should. This prolonged retention of primary teeth can create complications for the eruption of secondary (permanent) teeth, as they may become misaligned or impacted due to the presence of the retained primary teeth.

While all the answer choices relate to issues that could arise in a dental context, the specific consequence of ankylosis in this scenario focuses on the delayed shedding of primary teeth. The fusion to the bone restricts the natural process of tooth exfoliation, making course B the reasoning behind the right answer.