A radiographic study of the development of the human mandibular dentition

This paper presents new data on the absolute timing of the growth of the mandibular permanent teeth, with an emphasis on the timing of the completion of the enamel crown. Two collections of cranio-dental radiographs were analyzed: (1) 267 juveniles from a contemporary pediatric dental clinic (Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry, Cleveland, Ohio), and (2) 36 individuals sampled longitudinally from the Bolton-Brush Growth Study Center. The ages of the individuals span from three months to 18 years of age and the study includes both cross-sectional and longitudinal data. Comparisons of the ages of attainment of the Cleveland samples with other schedules of dental development are made. The relative contribution of the multiple underlying sources of variation producing the differences between the radiographically based developmental schedules remain elusive.