Similarity in dental maturation in two ethnic groups of London children

BACKGROUND: The existence of ethnic differences in dental maturity is uncertain. AIMS: The aims were to assess the impact of ethnic group and sex on tooth formation and report two new dental age estimation methods. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The sample was radiographs of White and Bangladeshi dental patients in London, England (529 males, 521 females) of 2-22 years. Mandibular permanent teeth were staged after Moorrees et al. (1963, J Dent Res 42:1490). Average age entering tooth stages was calculated using logistic regression with ethnic group and sex as explanatory factors. Maturity data were adapted for age prediction (N25a) and mean age within stage (N25b) was calculated. RESULTS: Mean ages between ethnic groups was not significantly different in 83 of 91 individual tooth stage comparisons in males and 77 of 91 comparisons in females. Variation within each group was greater than variation between groups. For the combined ethnic group comparison of males and females, results show that average age of most canine and premolar root stages in females was significantly earlier than males and third molar root formation was later in females compared to males (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Dental maturity of permanent teeth was similar in these ethnic groups.