Congenitally missing teeth are the result of failure in which stage of development?: (A) Initiation, (B) Morphodifferentiation, (C) Apposition, (D) Calcification
Answer is A. Initiation and proliferation are the only possibilities for congenitally absent teeth, the bud and cap stages, respectively. In the histodifferentiation stage, the teeth are present; failure in this stage results in structural abnormalities of the enamel and dentin. Failure in the morphodifferentiation stage results in size and shape abnormalities.