Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT)

How does fusion of teeth appear visually?

1. One tooth appears smaller

2. Two crowns appear similar

3. One tooth appears to be missing

4. Indistinguishable crown shape

The correct answer is: One tooth appears to be missing

The fusion of teeth typically results in a condition where two adjacent teeth become joined together. This fusion can create an appearance where it looks like one tooth is missing, particularly when the fused teeth have absorbed the space of one of the originals. Visually, the fused area may lead to a reduction in the expected number of teeth present in the arch, giving the impression of a missing tooth. The other options do not accurately describe the visual characteristics of dental fusion. For instance, one tooth appearing smaller may be a feature of other dental anomalies like microdontia or peg-shaped teeth but does not specifically characterize fusion. Similarly, while two crowns appearing similar or indistinguishable crown shape may occur in various dental conditions, they do not specifically convey the hallmark of fusion, which is the combination of two teeth rather than their mere similarity or indistinction. The key defining feature of fusion is the resultant effect on tooth visibility and number, making the option that one tooth appears to be missing the most representative of how fusion presents visually.