The onset of eruption of the permanent dentition amongst South African black children.

One thousand and twenty-four children with a mean age of 6.41 yr were examined to determine the mean ages of eruption for the first permanent molars and the permanent central and lateral incisors. The youngest observed age for the eruption of any permanent tooth amongst girls was 4.50 yr and amongst boys, 4.31 yr. The eruption ages were on the whole later than those reported in most African studies, but were very similar to those found for Kenyan African and American blacks.