Primary Tooth Emergence Research Articles

Relation of chronology of deciduous tooth emergence to height, weight and head circumference in children

In this United States probability sample of a nutritional survey conducted in 1969–1970, data for 273 caucasoid children (ages 1–3 yr) were analysed to determine if deciduous tooth emergence was related to height, weight and head circumference. The coefficient of association, Q, was positive for all comparisons. Chi-square analyses demonstrated significant associations between the total number of teeth present and height, weight and head circumference in boys ; the associations in girls were significant for teeth vs height. These findings indicate that the timing of deciduous tooth emergence is significantly related to general somatic growth and perhaps nutritional status.