Question

"Patient: Male, 22-years

Chief complaint: Requests routine checkup.
Background: Recently moved to your town and seeks regular care. He has no relevant medical history.
Current Findings: The patient has good oral hygiene and low caries experience. Several of his posterior teeth have been fissure sealed. You notice that his tooth #T is present, so that in this quadrant there appears to be one premolar, and three molars. Radiographs show that all third molars are absent, and there are no unerupted teeth. The patient was aware that he still had a ""baby tooth"", but it has never bothered him.

The patient's missing succedaneous tooth would most commonly have been expected to have
a. Three cusps, and one root with a single root canal
b. Two cusps, and one root with a single root canal
c. Three cusps, and two roots, each with a single root canal
d. Two cusps, and one root with two root canals"

Answer 1

The patient's missing succedaneous tooth would most commonly have been expected to have c. Three cusps, and two roots, each with a single root canal.

Step-by-step explanation:

Analyzing dental anatomy and the description provided, the missing succedaneous tooth is likely a maxillary first premolar (tooth #T). Maxillary first premolars commonly have three cusps and two roots, each with a single root canal. This dental configuration is a characteristic feature of the maxillary first premolar.

In the given scenario, the patient has one premolar and three molars in the quadrant, and radiographs confirm the absence of the third molars and no unerupted teeth. The patient's awareness of having a "baby tooth" that has not bothered him aligns with the expected lifespan of deciduous (baby) teeth.

In summary, based on the dental anatomy described, the missing succedaneous tooth is likely a maxillary first premolar with c. three cusps and two roots, each with a single root canal.