Timing of primary tooth emergence among U.S. racial and ethnic groups.

OBJECTIVES

To compare timing of tooth emergence among groups of American Indian (AI), Black and White children in the United States at 12 months of age.

METHODS

Data were from two sources - a longitudinal study of a Northern Plains tribal community and a study with sites in Indiana, Iowa and North Carolina. For the Northern Plains study, all children (n = 223) were American Indian, while for the multisite study, children (n = 320) were from diverse racial groups. Analyses were limited to data from examinations conducted within 30 days of the child's first birthday.

RESULTS

AI children had significantly more teeth present (Mean: 7.8, Median: 8.0) than did Whites (4.4, 4.0, P < 0.001) or Blacks (4.5, 4.0, P < 0.001). No significant differences were detected between Black and White children (P = 0.58). There was no significant sex difference overall or within any of the racial groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Tooth emergence occurs at a younger age for AI children than it does for contemporary White or Black children in the United States.