Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT)

What defines gemination in dental terms?

1. Two roots forming from one crown

2. One root with two crowns forming

3. Two teeth fully fused

4. Separation of roots due to decay

The correct answer is: One root with two crowns forming

Gemination is defined as the occurrence where a single tooth bud attempts to split, resulting in a single root and two crowns. This phenomenon commonly involves the formation of a tooth with a bifid appearance, leading to the visual representation of two crowns for one root system when viewed clinically or radiographically. In this context, gemination is distinct from other dental terms such as fusion, where two separate tooth buds fuse together to form a single tooth with two roots. In gemination, the essential aspect is that it originates from a single developmental origin or bud. This unique aspect of gemination—specifically one root with two crowns—helps dental professionals make the correct diagnosis when observing unusual tooth morphology.