The Relationship Between Teething and Handedness

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of tooth eruption sequences as an indicator of handedness. The investigation was carried out on 92 healthy children. The questionnaire form was filled out for each child. The form consisted of two parts. In the first part there were questions to determine the demographic features of the children. The second part consisted of the questions to clarify the eruption time and sequence of first primary teeth. Hand preference was evaluated by placing colored pencils directly in front of the child, who was asked to write an "X" on a piece of paper with each pencil. According to left-, right-, and indetermined handedness, all children regardless of sex were divided into three groups. The data were analyzed for statistical evaluation using tests for the difference between two population propositions. The mean eruption time of the first tooth in children was 7.5 +/- 1.7 months. The eruption time was found similar in both groups. No statistically significant difference was determined between the teeth eruption time and handedness (p >.05). The first tooth erupted was generally the lower central incisor. There was no difference tooth eruption and sex, gestation week (p >.05). No statistically significant difference was found between the teeth eruption time and sequence of the primary teeth (p >.05). There was statistically significant difference between sequence of the tooth eruption and handedness (p <.001). Consequently, the tooth eruption sequences may play an important role as an indicator in handedness.

Correlation between permanent tooth eruption pattern and the predominance of the motor function laterality

“…Results on the relationship between laterality and dental eruption are essentially the same to those of similar studies ( 6 , 7 ). In those, even if the evaluation of dentition was not as exhaustive, it was observed that dental eruption might be a good indicator of a child laterality.…”

“…In other studies previously made on this topic, one limitation lies in the value for the dental eruption order variable that was collected by indirect way (parent questioning), so the data were based on memories, photographs, registrations and recordings, providing not completely reliable information ( 6 , 7 ). Another difference lies in the fact that hand laterality in those studies was evaluated in 3 to 5 years children, but that period could be precocious or premature as it has been considered that in these age span would not yet set a complete maturity in that domain ( 1 ).…”

“…There seems to be a coincidence or correlation between first tooth replacement and motor laterality of the child, so that if it debuts or it’s more premature in the right hemiarcades, the child tends to be right-handed. On the contrary, when replacement starts in the left hemiarcades, tends to be left-handed ( 6 ).…”

“…It would contribute on childhood psychology, paediatrics and odontology in an easy yet effective way. Literature shows only partial studies on this subject ( 6 - 8 ).…”

The Prevalence, Characteristics and Risk Factors in Non-Carious Cervical Lesion: A Survey on 295 People in Guangzhou Area

“…Hand preference was stated as one of the most important parameters affecting cognitive abilities and proficiency [23,24]. One study of 106 subjects reported that more lesions were found on the left side of righthanded subjects, but the difference was not statistically significant.…”