deciduous tooth

Commonly known as 'baby teeth' or 'milk teeth,' 'deciduous teeth' are the first set of teeth in mammals, eventually replaced by permanent teeth.

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Definition

(technical)A temporary tooth that is replaced by a permanent tooth during childhood.

Children typically start losing their deciduous teeth around the age of six.
The dentist explained that the cavity was in a deciduous tooth and would not affect the permanent teeth.

(technical, academic)A primary tooth in young mammals that is eventually shed and replaced by an adult tooth.

In most mammals, the development of deciduous teeth is a critical stage in early growth.
Deciduous teeth play a significant role in the proper alignment and spacing of future permanent teeth.