Deciduous
Pronunciation: deh-SID-yoo-us
Referring to the primary (baby) teeth that erupt in infancy and are shed to make way for the permanent dentition.
Full Definition
In dental terminology, 'deciduous teeth' is the formal clinical term for primary or baby teeth, derived from the Latin 'decidere' (to fall off). Editors working on paediatric dentistry records, textbooks, or guidelines must recognise that 'deciduous', 'primary', and 'baby' teeth all refer to the same dentition. The preferred term in formal clinical and academic writing is 'primary teeth' in most current style guides, though 'deciduous' remains widely used and is unambiguously correct. Editors should avoid 'milk teeth' in formal documents as it is considered a colloquialism. The deciduous dentition comprises 20 teeth, lettered A through T in the Universal system or labelled with lowercase letters (a–e) in the FDI notation.
Usage
Usage note: 'Primary teeth' is preferred in current clinical style guides. 'Deciduous' is clinically correct but may feel archaic in patient-facing materials. Avoid 'milk teeth' in formal documents.
In Context
- "The child presented with premature loss of the deciduous lower-right second molar, necessitating space maintenance." — Paediatric dentistry clinical note
- "Under current EU amalgam regulations, the use of amalgam restorations in deciduous teeth is prohibited." — Regulatory compliance guidance