RESUMEN
The objectives of the present study were to determine the mean eruption time of permanent first molars, central and lateral incisors and to compare the relationship of eruption time with Body Mass Index [BMI] in Saudi male preschool and primary schoolchildren of grade 1 to grade 3 [G1 to G3]. The study population comprised 716 randomly selected male preschool and primary school children from G1 to G3. The eruption time of permanent first molars, central and lateral incisors with age, height and weight were recorded. The mean age of children was 81.5 +/- 10.9 months ranging from 61 months to 111 months. The results show that, maxillary right first molar had the lowest mean eruption time of 70.2 +/- 5.3 months and the right upper lateral incisor was the last tooth to erupt with mean eruption time of 94.1 +/- 8.3 months. Furthermore, the mandibular incisors erupted significantly earlier than maxillary incisors. By the age of 88.4 months, 97% of the boys had all their first permanent molars erupted. There was no significant correlation observed between eruption times with BMI, except for tooth # 32. Nevertheless, it seems that an inverse relationship may exist between the eruption time and BMI. When comparing with the reported results of other national studies, the Saudi male children showed later eruption time than some of African countries and earlier eruption than Iranian and Australian children of permanent first molars, central and lateral incisors