Last Deciduous Tooth to Exfoliate — MFDS Part 1 MCQ

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EasyAnatomy (Head & Neck)Last Deciduous Tooth to ExfoliateMFDS Part 1

According to SDCEP guidance on the usual exfoliation ages of primary molars, which tooth normally exfoliates later?

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Correct answer: B — Second primary molar

Explanation lettering: C = shown as A · A = shown as B · B = shown as C

A is correct. SDCEP states that first primary molars usually exfoliate at approximately 9–11 years, whereas second primary molars usually exfoliate at approximately 10–12 years. The second primary molar is therefore the later-exfoliating primary molar and is replaced by the second premolar. Primary central and lateral incisors are normally lost considerably earlier during the initial mixed-dentition stage. Primary canines may also exfoliate at around 10–12 years, so they remain a plausible distractor. This overlap is why the original wording asking for the single last deciduous tooth was not uniquely answerable; restricting the question to the relative chronology of primary molars resolves the ambiguity.

Reference: Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP), Prevention and Management of Dental Caries in Children: Teeth Close to Exfoliation, current webpage checked 2026. https://www.childcaries.sdcep.org.uk/guidance/caries-management-in-primary-teeth/teeth-close-to-exfoliation/