ACCELERATION IN DENTAL DEVELOPMENT - FACT OR FICTION

The aim of this investigation was to determine whether an actual accel eration in dental development has taken place over the last 30 years i n a European population group, as is so readily observable in relation to body height. In this study, radiographs of 1038 healthy European c hildren, 516 boys and 522 girls, were evaluated. The methodology and n orms given by Nolla (1960) for both sexes were used and compared with the tooth developmental stages in our subjects. In girls, no differenc e to Nolla's norms could be detected. However, in boys, dental develop ment has accelerated. This difference was most apparent in the 3- to 9 -year-old age group and was statistically significant. Thus, over the last 30 years, a small acceleration in dental development has taken pl ace in very young males.