HOSA Dental Terminology Practice 2025 - Free Dental Terminology Practice Questions and Study Guide

Resorption in dental terminology primarily refers to the physiological process through which the roots of deciduous, or baby, teeth are removed to make way for the emergence of permanent teeth. This natural phenomenon occurs as part of dental development, where the body gradually breaks down and absorbs the roots of the primary teeth, ultimately allowing them to fall out. This process is critical as it ensures that there is adequate space for the adult teeth to erupt properly. It highlights the dynamic nature of teeth and their supporting structures over time, reflecting a balance between tooth retention and loss necessary for optimal dental arch development.

The other options provided do not pertain accurately to the concept of resorption. The formation of new bone around the teeth relates more to processes such as bone remodeling or regeneration rather than resorption. Building up of enamel layers pertains to enamel formation and is not related to the process of resorption. An increase in blood supply to the gums generally involves a response to inflammation or healing, which again does not describe the process of resorption.