What process do primary teeth go through when they prepare to fall out to make way for the eruption of permanent teeth?

The correct term for the process by which primary teeth prepare to fall out to make way for permanent teeth is exfoliation. This is a natural process where the roots of the primary teeth dissolve, reducing their stability and allowing them to loosen and eventually fall out. This preparation is crucial for creating space for the permanent teeth that will emerge in their place, ensuring proper alignment and dental health.

While absorption refers to the general process of substance uptake, in this context, it relates more specifically to how the body reabsorbs the dental tissues rather than the overall process of the primary tooth's transition. Replacement implies the act of something taking the place of another, which in this case would be the permanent teeth taking the spot of the primary ones but does not encapsulate the actual physical process of the primary teeth falling out. Deciduous shedding is a term that can often be used interchangeably with exfoliation, but it is less commonly used and may not be recognized universally in dental terminology. Therefore, exfoliation is the most accurate term to describe this specific process.