AGE AND ORDER OF ERUPTION OF PRIMARY TEETH IN SPANISH CHILDREN

A longitudinal study on primary tooth eruption was performed in 114 Sp anish children in two Primary Care Centers over 3 yr. Data from period ic observations and data collected by previously instructed parents wa s studied. Ages of tooth eruption were calculated for both sexes. Comp arison between the two sides of the jaws showed a nonsignificant tende ncy towards earlier left side eruption. Comparison between maxillary a nd mandibular showed a significant earlier mandibular eruption for cen tral incisors and second molars and a significant earlier maxillary er uption for lateral incisors. Comparison between sexes showed a tendenc y towards earlier eruption in boys for all teeth, significant only for mandibular central incisors, maxillary and mandibular lateral incisor s and mandibular canines. Order of tooth eruption and its most frequen t changes were also studied. When these findings were compared to stud ies performed in other populations it was concluded that ages and orde r of primary tooth eruption in Spanish children are similar to those f ound in other populations.