Maturation of permanent teeth in Black and Latino children.

The relationship between chronological age and the development of permanent teeth has been investigated according to the method described by Dcmirjian et a! . Panoramic radiographs of 1085 children (male and female) of varying ages (2 years to IS years) were evaluated. Only healthy children with full complement of permanent teeth for their chronological age were used in this study. The degree of maturation of each of the several appropriate permanent teeth on the left side of mandible was determined, and dental maturity scores computed for each child. Evaluation of the data demonstrated that all groups in this study (Whites, Blacks and Latinos) had a more advanced maturity score for chronological age than did the French Canadian groups of Demirjian et a1 . In addition, Latino boys and girls had more advanced maturity scores than did White boys and girls of the Chicago sample.