title: Eruption times of third molars in young rural Nigerians.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O D
authors.initials: OD
authors.lastname: Otuyemi
authors.forename: V I
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Ugboko
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Ndukwe
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Adekoya-Sofowora
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003724:Dental Arch; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008437:Maxilla; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000502:physiology*; D009549:Nigeria; D012424:Rural Population; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D014078:Tooth Eruption / Q000502:physiology*