Which term refers to a tooth that has not erupted through the tissues and is not yet in function?

Which term refers to a tooth that has not erupted through the tissues and is not yet in function?

• A. Erupted
• B. Impacted
• C. Retained
• D. Unerupted

Answer: (D)

Eruption status terms describe where a tooth is in relation to the mouth and function. When a tooth has not yet erupted through the tissues and isn’t in use, we call it unerupted. This simply notes that eruption hasn’t occurred yet and the tooth isn’t functioning. An erupted tooth has already come into the mouth and can function in biting and chewing. An impacted tooth is blocked from erupting by a barrier such as bone or another tooth, so it remains tucked in and cannot erupt normally. Retained commonly refers to a tooth that remains in the mouth after its normal eruption time or to a deciduous tooth that should have shed but hasn’t. So, the term that matches “not erupted through tissues and not in function” is unerupted.

Eruption status terms describe where a tooth is in relation to the mouth and function. When a tooth has not yet erupted through the tissues and isn’t in use, we call it unerupted. This simply notes that eruption hasn’t occurred yet and the tooth isn’t functioning. An erupted tooth has already come into the mouth and can function in biting and chewing. An impacted tooth is blocked from erupting by a barrier such as bone or another tooth, so it remains tucked in and cannot erupt normally. Retained commonly refers to a tooth that remains in the mouth after its normal eruption time or to a deciduous tooth that should have shed but hasn’t. So, the term that matches “not erupted through tissues and not in function” is unerupted.