Dental Assistant Practice Exam

What feature is commonly seen in newly erupted central incisor teeth?

1. Fossa

2. Cusp

3. Mamelon

4. Midline

The correct answer is: Mamelon

Newly erupted central incisor teeth commonly exhibit mamelons. Mamelons are small, rounded protuberances found on the incisal edges of newly erupted incisors. They occur as a result of the way the teeth form, with labial and lingual lobes coming together. As the teeth wear down with use over time, these mamelons typically become less pronounced or even absent in older teeth. While fossa, cusp, and midline are important dental features, they do not characterize newly erupted central incisors in the same way. Fossa generally refers to a depression or concavity on a tooth's surface and is more commonly associated with posterior teeth. Cusp pertains to pointed or rounded projections typically found on molars and premolars, not incisors. The midline refers to the imaginary line that divides the dental arch into left and right halves, which is a positional reference rather than a feature of the teeth themselves. Thus, mamelons are distinctive attributes of when central incisors first emerge.