An epidemiological survey of the time and sequence of eruption of permanent teeth in 4-15-year-olds in Tehran, Iran.

AIM: The aims of this study were to define the average time of eruption of permanent teeth, the range of variation of the eruption time of each tooth, and their sequence of eruption amongst boys and girls in Tehran, Iran.

METHODS

The population under study comprised 3744 pupils and students in the 4-15-year-old age group (1786 girls and 1958 boys) who were randomly selected from schools and training centres in the 20 districts covered by the General Department of Education and Training in Tehran. The research was carried out on a cross-sectional basis. The average age at eruption of permanent teeth, excluding third molars, was given as the mean (+/- SD) and median in months for each gender. A table of percentiles of the eruption time was also determined.

RESULTS

The results show that, with the exception of the maxillary second premolars, the average age at eruption of permanent teeth in girls is less than in boys. The results also show that mandibular teeth have an earlier eruption time than maxillary teeth in both boys and girls. By the age of 96 months, 97% of the girls had all their first permanent molars. In boys, the corresponding age was 99 months. Amongst girls, maxillary canines erupt earlier than maxillary second premolars.

CONCLUSION

On average, girls have their permanent teeth erupt earlier than boys. The sequence of eruption differs between girls and boys for maxillary canines and maxillary second premolars.