Primary Tooth Extraction Complication — ORE Part 1 MCQ
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Correct answer: D — Fracture and retention of a root fragment
The correct answer is **A. Fracture and retention of a root fragment**. Primary molars have thin, divergent roots that embrace the developing premolar follicle and may be partly resorbed. They are therefore susceptible to fracture during extraction, particularly if excessive force or inappropriate luxation is used. UK guidance on primary-tooth extraction emphasises the distinctive anatomy and resorption of primary teeth when extraction is planned. Persistent haemorrhage is not the best answer: slight bleeding is expected, whereas clinically important post-extraction haemorrhage is uncommon. Socket infection is uncommon after a straightforward extraction. Sensory nerve injury is exceptionally unlikely in routine primary-molar extraction, and alveolar-process fracture is a less frequent traumatic complication.
Reference: Royal College of Surgeons of England, Faculty of Dental Surgery. Extraction of Primary Teeth: Balance and Compensation, 2000. https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/-/media/Files/RCS/FDS/Publications/extractp.pdf