The age of permanent tooth emergence in children of different ethnic origin in the Auckland region: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES

To report robust and contemporary estimates of permanent teeth emergence ages in children of Māori, Pasifika, Chinese, Indian and European ethnic origin in the Auckland region.

DESIGN

A stratified, two-stage cross-sectional study. Strata were defined by school decile status. Schools defined the first-stage sampling unit, and students the second stage.

SETTING

Invitations and consent forms were distributed to eligible participants at school for completion at home. Participants were examined at school-based clinics or in a mobile clinic. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, AND

METHODS

Children aged between 5 and 13 years enrolled within the Auckland Regional Dental Service. Schools were randomly selected and then all students within selected schools were invited to participate. Eligible participants completing a consent form had an additional tooth assessment that complemented their routine dental examination. A generalised gamma failure-time model was employed to estimate permanent tooth eruption ages.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Visually based assessment of permanent tooth emergence.

RESULTS

Overall, 3,466 children participated. Differences in median permanent tooth emergence ages were seen among ethnic groups and sexes (P < or = 0.01). Pasifika children had earlier median eruption time than sex-matched Māori children, who (in turn) were more advanced than sex-matched European children. Median eruption age occurred earlier in girls than boys for all permanent teeth.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite known demographic, geographic and ethnic differences, estimates of permanent teeth emergence timing widely used in New Zealand are based on historical overseas populations. The presented estimates provide new standards and may be more appropriate for dental therapists and dentists when assessing permanent teeth emergence in New Zealand children.