The onset of eruption of permanent teeth amongst South African Indian children.

A total of 1036 Indian children were examined to determine the mean ages of eruption for the first permanent molars, and the permanent central and lateral incisors. The youngest observed age for the eruption of any permanent tooth was 5.00 years for girls and 4.94 for boys. Mandibular teeth erupted earlier than maxillary teeth and teeth in females erupted between 1 and 6 months earlier than in males. Comparison of the results of the present study to one in South African black children showed that Indian children's teeth erupt some 3.5-7 months later than those of black children, a difference that was statistically significant.