ERUPTION TIME OF PERMANENT FIRST MOLARS AND INCISORS AMONG FEMALE PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN OF RIYADH

Objective: To determine the mean eruption time of permanent first molars, central and lateral incisors andto compare the relationship of mean eruption time with body mass index (BMI) in Saudi female primaryschool children from Riyadh. Saudi Arabia. Study design: Cross sectional study. Subjects and methods: The study population comprised o f 612 randomly selected primary school childrenof grade 1 to grade 3. The eruption time o f permanent first molars, central and lateral incisors with age.height and weight were recorded. Results: The mean age of children was 89.3 (SD 9.6) months ranging from 71 months to 109 months. Themaxillary right first molar had the lowest mean eruption time o f 77.4 (SD 3.9) months and the maxillaryright lateral incisor was the last tooth to erupt with eruption time of 98.4 (SD 6.5) months. Furthermore, themandibular incisors erupted significantly earlier than maxillary incisors. By the age o f 100 months, 97%of the girls had all their first permanent molars erupted. Conclusion: There was no significant correlation observed between eruption times with BMI of the studiedteeth except the maxillary right lateral incisor. However, an inverse relationship may exist between theeruption times and BMI. The Saudi female primary school children showed later eruption time of permanentfirst molars, central and lateral incisors when compared with the reported results o f other national studies.