Scoring system for assessing the symmetry of tooth development in mixed dentition

BACKGROUND: Human teeth develop sequentially and symmetrically in both halves of the jaws. Disorders of tooth development and eruption can be local or generalized. The symmetry comparison of tooth development is an essential measuring point to assess dentition. The aim of this study was the development of an easy-to-apply score that represents the tooth development of one side of the jaw to carry out side-specific development comparisons. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The stages of development and the state of health of the teeth were determined on orthopantomograms of 59 healthy children and adolescents applying acknowledged developmental standards of teeth. The individual stages of tooth development on one side of the jaw were combined into a numerical score. The sum score of each jaw side was compared. RESULTS: The dental developmental score reveals the side differences of tooth development are small in children and adolescents with mixed dentition (n.s.). The change of teeth starts earlier in females. CONCLUSIONS: The presented score enables an easily applicable examination of the symmetry of tooth development in mixed dentition. Potential applications of the Score are to examine the influence of unilaterally manifest dento-skeletal developmental disorders on the change of teeth and the influence of deviating individual tooth development on neighboring teeth on one side. Key words:Dentition, development, symmetry, permanent teeth, deciduous teeth, oral health.Dentition, development, symmetry, permanent teeth, deciduous teeth, oral health.