Sequence and Chronology of Permanent Teeth Eruption in 5–18-Year-Old School Children of Chennai and the Influence of Sex, BMI, and Socio-Economic Status

Objectives

This study aimed to determine the sequence and eruption chronology of permanent teeth in school children and adolescents of Chennai and compare the findings with an existing standard table. Additionally, the study also attempted to explore the influence of sex, body mass index (BMI), and socioeconomic status (SES) on tooth eruption patterns.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was designed, and 12,650 children aged 5–18 years were selected from thirty-five schools using a multistage random sampling method. The clinical eruption status of all permanent teeth was evaluated using a new grading system. The chronology of permanent teeth eruption was determined using probit regression analysis while the intergroup comparison was carried out using the unpaired t-test and anova test.

Results

The study sample included 6414 males and 6236 females. The mandibular first molar emerged as the first tooth at 5.5 years, whereas the maxillary second molar was the last to erupt, appearing at 11.9 years. A statistically significant difference (p < 0.0001) was noted between the sexes, BMI, and SES categories for most teeth; however, the variation was only 1–3 months.

Conclusion

An accelerated eruption pattern was observed for all teeth, except the mandibular canines, with a notable reversal in the maxillary sequence, where canines erupted before the first premolars. Tooth eruption occurred earlier in females, in the lower jaw, right side, in normal BMI, and high SES categories. A new eruption chart has been proposed for the Indian population, based on robust data from this study, providing an updated standard reference for assessing permanent tooth emergence.