A Gravimetric Study of Crown Growth Rate of the Human Deciduous Dentition

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Abstract
Dental growth of human deciduous teeth in terms of weight is closely related to age, less so to body growth and only to a negligible extent to the mesiodistal diameters of teeth. Circumnatal ages may be assessed for forensic purposes by this method. Square roots of dry weights of deciduous dentitions and of each type of tooth increase in direct proportion to age during later fetal growth. Growth rates relative to that of the second molars (upper, 100; lower, 100) were as follows: first molars upper, 104, lower, 104 canines: upper, 60; lower 58; lateral incisors: upper 96, lower 70; central incisors: upper 104, lower 76. Retardation of dental growth was evident during the 2 wks. following birth. Postnatal growth of canines and second molars continued at logarithmic rates similar to those during the prenatal period. Weights of first molars increased in direct proportion to age during the mos. following birth. Weight increases of incisors decelerated towards rates which were more characteristic of dentin growth in these teeth. Increments Of weight were the same for both enamel and dentin during the greater part of the developmental periods studied.