Deciduous Tooth Eruption

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Abstract
Means of total erupted deciduous teeth present are given at ages of 4,13,26,39 weeks, 1, 1.5, 2 and 3 years in a sample of children longitudinally followed. The 5th and 95th percentiles are given. The means and standard deviations of increments of erupting teeth are given. The distribution curves of total teeth present are discussed and shown to be abnormally distributed. Those of incremental data are nearly normally so. The general pattern of eruption is discussed in the sexes from the point of view of the value of deciduous eruption as a maturational indicator and of its relationship to skeletal maturation. It appears that deciduous dentition is remarkably independent of other morphological processes. In this sample children advanced in deciduous tooth eruption are consistently and significantly smaller than the average during eruption. No relationship is shown between deciduous tooth eruption and skeletal maturation. Comparisons of deciduous dentition are made between American, European and African children. There is a markedly similar pattern. It is suggested that the effect of admission to hospital and presumably illness of some severity slows deciduous dentition.