Dental OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) Practice Exam

Which condition results in one less tooth count?

1. Fusion

2. Gemination

3. Hypodontia

4. Oligodontia

The correct answer is: Fusion

The condition that results in one less tooth count is fusion. Fusion occurs when two adjacent teeth congenitally unite to form a single, larger tooth structure. This process effectively reduces the total tooth count by one, as instead of counting two separate teeth, they are counted as one. The resulting tooth may exhibit a broader crown and may have a single root, depending on how the roots of the adjacent teeth combine. In contrast, gemination involves the partial development of two teeth from a single tooth bud, leading to a tooth that appears larger but technically counts as two teeth. Hypodontia refers to the condition where one or more teeth are congenitally missing, but not necessarily only one; it can lead to multiple missing teeth. Oligodontia is a more severe form of hypodontia, specifically associated with the absence of six or more teeth. While both hypodontia and oligodontia result in fewer teeth, the specific relationship to the loss of just one tooth is distinctively linked to fusion.