The socio-demographic and anthropometric variables could influence the number of teeth present in the child's mouth. To determine the effect of anthropometric and socio-demographic variables on the number of erupted primary teeth, a cross-sectional study was performed involving 1013 children aged between 4 and 36 months who attended the immunization clinics in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Statistical analyses were performed using STATA. The analyses included frequencies, cross-tabulations, chi squared test and t-test. The number of erupted teeth was modelled as the dependent variable in a multiple regression (Binomial) model, and the socio-demographic (age, gender and socio-economic status) and anthropometric variables, such as weight and height at presentation, as predictor variables. Statistical significance was inferred at P < 0.05. The age and height at presentation had significant association with the number of erupted teeth in this study population (P < 0.001). Also children from high socio-economic class in relation to low socio-economic class had significant larger number of erupted teeth in this study population (P < 0.001). The age and height of the child at presentation were significantly related to the number of erupted teeth. Also children from high socio-economic class had significant lager number of erupted teeth compared with children from low socio-economic class.

The eruption pattern of third molar amongst 1071 rural Nigerians (523 males and 548 females) aged 11-21 years was assessed. The earliest age at which the third molar erupted for males and females was 14 and 13 years respectively with females significantly ahead of males (P < 0.01). A full compliment of erupted third molars was recorded at age 14 years in 1.1 per cent of the population. However, the mean age for the eruption of 1, 2, or 3 and all third molars were 16.58 and 17.50 years respectively. Whilst third molar-eruption was significantly earlier in the mandible, no right-left side differences were found. Problems often associated with the erupting third molars are likely to be seen earlier in young rural Nigerians than in the western countries.

The eruption chronology of the primary dentition has been studied in some populations, however; only few studies from Nigeria and other African countries have been reported. OBJECTIVE: To determine the appropriate reference standard for eruption of primary teeth in Nigerian children. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross sectional study consisting of 1,013 clinically healthy babies, infants and preschool children between the ages of 4 to 36 months from the community health centers immunization clinics in Ife Central and Ife East Local Government Areas.RESULTS: Boys erupted primary teeth earlier than girls in both arches except the first molars. However, girls had a shorter duration of eruption (from the first tooth to erupt to the last tooth to erupt) when compared to boys. In addition, boys had a systematic tendency for earlier eruption on the left side.CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, a baseline data for eruption of primary teeth among Nigerian children has been established. Nigerian children experienced an earlier eruption of primary teeth when compared to their Arabian and American counterparts and a later eruption when compared to children from Iceland.

Various aspects of human growth and development have been reported to be adversely affected by malnutrition in early life. Opinion is still divided regarding the role of nutritional status in dental development. The study was carried out to determine the effect of breastfeeding pattern on the eruption times of primary teeth. The study population consisted of 1,013 clinically healthy babies, infants and preschool children between the ages 4-36 months who visited the immunization clinics at the Community Health Centres in Ife Central and Ife East Local Government Areas. Primary teeth erupted earlier in children who were exclusively breastfed when compared to those who were partially breastfed (P<0.05). In most ages (months) children who were exclusively breastfed had more number of erupted teeth compared to those partially breastfed (P<0.05). Within the limitation of this study, children who were exclusively breastfed had lower mean age of emergence in eighteen out of twenty teeth than those partially breastfed with ten teeth being statistically significant, showing that nutrition may play an important role in the emergence of primary teeth. nutrition in dental development 9). A few reports have noted the selective effect of nutrition-including breast milk-on the timing and number of erupted primary teeth: Holman and Yamaguchi 4) noted that poor nutritional status was associated with delayed emergence of primary teeth while medium nutritional status showed significantly delayed emergence of incisors and canines of upper dentition, and all the teeth in the lower dentition. Kitamura 10,11) on the other hand, concluded that babies of good nutritional status emerged their teeth earlier though this difference was not statistically significant. In terms of number, Enwonwu 3) noted that the child's nutritional status also significantly affects the number of teeth erupting within a time frame. He reported less number of teeth in children with poor nutritional status when compared with their counterparts with better nutritional status. In view of the various research reports on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding on the somatic