Human tooth development, tooth length and eruption; a study of British archaeological dentitions

Human teeth erupt during root growth but few studies report the relationship between fractions of root development and eruption levels. The aim of this study was to assess root stages of deciduous and early erupting permanent teeth (maxillary and mandibular central incisors and first molars) at eruption levels and relate this to root fraction and tooth length. The sample consisted of 620 modern human skeletal remains with developing teeth. Tooth stage (based on Moorrees crown and root stages) and eruption levels of all developing teeth were assessed where possible. Tooth length of isolated teeth was measured. The distribution of root stage at eruption levels was calculated. Results showed that root stage at alveolar eruption was less variable than at partial eruption. Most teeth (72% of 138) at alveolar eruption were at root a quarter (R¼) whereas teeth at partial eruption were at R¼ or root half (R½) (38 and 50% of 128 respectively). These findings suggest that the active phase of eruption is probably a rapid process and occurs during the first half of root growth