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ERUPTION TIME OF PERMANENT MANDIBULAR FIRST MOLARS
IN A NIGERIAN POPULATION
Eboh, D.E.O, Ugorji, E.A. and Anibor, E.
Department of Community
Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences,
Delta State University,Abraka, Nigeria.
Department of physiology,
Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences,College of health
Sciences, Delta State
University, Abraka, Nigeria.
drebohdennis@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
The dentition may be considered
to be the single best physiological indicator of chronological age in
juveniles. Once all primary teeth are exfoliated and third molars are
fully developed, whether impacted or erupted, the ability to gauge age
by dental development no longer reliable. Eruption is the movement of a
tooth through the jaw tissue into the oral cavity. This study tends to
close the gap in literature and to determine the eruption time fo
permanent mandibular first molar and relate it to gender as well as both
sides of the mandible in a Nigerian population. Intra-oral examinations
were conducted under natural illumination and only children who just
erupted the permanent mandibular first molars(s) were included in the
study. Four hundred and eighty-five children (250 boys and 235 girls)
were found suitable for the study. Four hundred and thirty-nine teeth
were erupted; 38.95% of which were at 6 years and 7 years each, 11.85%
at 5 years and 10.25% at 8 years. 6 years and 7 years were the common
age of eruption of the permanent mandibular first molars. The erupted
teeth occurred symmetrically on both sides of the mandible and no gender
dimorphism. This may be useful in detal practice, forensic dentistry and
anthropology.
Keywords: Eruption, milars, anthropology, Nigeria. |
