Hypodontia — ORE Part 1 MCQ
Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.
Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.
Reveal the answer and explanation
Correct answer: A — Lower second premolar
Explanation lettering: E = shown as B · D = shown as C · B = shown as D · C = shown as E
The correct answer is A: Lower second premolar. This is supported by multiple large epidemiological studies in Caucasian, Italian, Danish, and Jordanian populations, which consistently show the mandibular second premolar as the most frequently congenitally absent permanent tooth (excluding third molars), accounting for approximately 18–21% of all congenital tooth absence. Option B (upper lateral incisor) is the second most common and is a plausible distractor for candidates familiar with incomplete literature. Options C, D and E are far less commonly absent and are poor distractors. The question is straightforward factual recall of standard dental epidemiology expected at an Easy examination level.
Reference: Katanaki N, Makrygiannakis MA, Kaklamanos EG. The Prevalence of Congenitally Missing Permanent Teeth in a Sample of Orthodontic and Non-Orthodontic Caucasian Patients. Healthcare. 2024 Feb. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10931087/