Eruption times of permanent teeth in children and young adolescents in Athens (Greece)

In a study in Athens, Greece, during the summer of 2003, 2,304 patients (1,168 boys and 1,176 girls) were examined by a young dentistry. The examination occurred within the framework of a routine dental check-up performed at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. The age span ranged from 3.00 to 24.93 years of age. Sex, age and present permanent teeth were recorded. Wisdom teeth were excluded. The sequence of tooth eruption differs significantly in the lower and upper jaw, whereas no significant differences existed when comparing the sides of each jaw. The tooth eruption in the lower and upper jaw of male and female probands is symmetrical. In comparing the upper and the lower jaw of both genders, it becomes evident that there is a tendency for earlier tooth eruptions in the lower jaw. In respect to the tooth eruption sequence, a change was noted in the upper jaw. Contrary to the reports of other authors, the second premolar has changed places with the canine and erupts prior to this tooth. This could also be demonstrated in recent studies from New York and Bremen (Germany). Otherwise no major differences concerning the sequence of tooth eruptions were observed, when compared with the results gained from other populations. Concerning the entire dentition, no acceleration of the tooth eruption could be noted. The computed differences of teeth eruption as a mean value calculated over all teeth was +/-1 year at maximum, compared with studies from different continents. Oral examination of teeth is a simple tool to calculate tooth eruption intervals. This first investigation in a population of Athens revealed a change in the eruption sequence of permanent teeth. These findings are relevant for dental treatment planning and should be reconfirmed at certain intervals.