An example of a retained tooth is?

A retained tooth refers to a tooth that has not fallen out when it should have, particularly in the context of deciduous (baby) teeth. These teeth normally serve their purpose during the early years of development and are expected to be replaced by permanent teeth. When a deciduous tooth remains in the mouth beyond the typical age for loss, it is labeled as 'retained.'

Deciduous teeth that fail to fall out can lead to various dental issues, such as misalignment of permanent teeth or crowding, making it critical to identify and manage retained teeth in clinical settings. Therefore, retaining deciduous teeth is a clear example and accurately reflects the definition of a retained tooth.

In contrast, adult teeth that are loose may suggest other problems, such as periodontal disease but do not fit the definition of retention because they are not held in place as expected. Extra molars refer to supernumerary teeth, which are an entirely different condition involving the presence of additional teeth rather than failure to shed existing ones. Impacted wisdom teeth indicate that these teeth are unable to erupt properly, but they do not fall under the category of 'retained' as retained teeth are typically associated with deciduous teeth that should be lost but aren't.