Calcification of the permanent first molars observed in panoramic radiographs

We investigated the development (calcification) stages of the permanent first molars of Japanese children by classifying them into 14 stages by the criterion of Moorrees, et al., using 11,167 panoramic radiographs, 5,759 of boys and 5,408 of girls, between the ages of 2 years 0 months and 14 years 11 months. The following information was obtained from calculations of the average chronological ages for the development stages of these teeth. 1) The development of first molars was earlier in girls than boys. This was particularly true during the middle phase of development. 2) A first molar on one side developed at the same rate as its counterpart on the other side, regardless of differences in sex or arch. 3) In both boys and girls, the development of the mandibular first molars was about one month earlier than that of the maxillary first molars at each stage. 4) When these results were compared with those of Nolla, Moorrees and Haavikko, who pioneered this field of study, it was clear that the development of the teeth in Japanese is different from that in Caucasians. 5) We made charts of the development of the first molars in Japanese which can be applied in routine clinical practice.