Australian Dental Council (ADC) Practice Test

The common effect of not maintaining deciduous molars until their natural exfoliation is that changes in facial growth occur. Deciduous molars play a vital role in guiding the eruption of permanent teeth and maintaining the necessary space for them. When these primary teeth are lost prematurely, it can lead to a disruption in the alignment and positioning of the permanent teeth that follow.

The premature loss of deciduous molars can result in the adjacent teeth drifting into the space, which may alter the overall alignment of the dental arch. This misalignment can consequently influence factors related to facial growth, such as the relationship between the jaws, the appearance of the smile, and the overall symmetry of the face. Maintaining deciduous molars is essential not only for dental health but also for ensuring optimal facial development during a child's growth phases.

In contrast, while tooth eruption patterns may be affected and permanent teeth may become misaligned due to the loss of primary molars, these issues are secondary results of the primary concern of facial growth disruptions. Hygiene practices, on the other hand, are generally not improved by losing these teeth; rather, the loss may complicate oral hygiene due to increased crowding or misalignment.