Eruption of permanent teeth in Brazilian Whites and Blacks.

A total of 302 White and 904 Black children six, nine and 12 years of age were studied for the eruption of their permanent teeth. Differences between the two ethnic groups were not large, but the Black subjects were generally more precocious at the beginning of the process (especially the girls, both in the upper and lower incisors). At nine and 12 years of age, however, these dissimilarities disappear. The latter do not seem to be related to distinct rates of extraction or agenesis of deciduous teeth. No significant differences were observed in the degree of asymmetry present in the permanent dentition of the White and Black individuals studied.