Paper short abstract:

Effect of undernutrition on the emergence of deciduous dentition was examined in a cross-sectional sample from the Shimla District of Himachal Pradesh State of India. The stunted children have a significantly greater likelihood of delayed emergence of deciduous dentition.

Paper long abstract:

Effect of undernutrition on the emergence of deciduous dentition was examined in a cross-sectional sample of rural Rajput children aged up to 4 years from the Jubbal and Kotkhai Tehsils of Shimla District of Himachal Pradesh State of India. The nutritional status was evaluated with the help of weight and supine length/stature expressed as S.D. scores of weight-for-age, supine length/stature-for-age and weight-for-supine length/stature. The effects of sex and side on deciduous dental emergence were not statistically significant. Except for lateral incisors in males and central incisors in females, the inter-jaw differences were also not significant. Partial correlation indicates that the number of emerged teeth was more strongly correlated with stature than with other anthropometric variables. In most age groups, the stunted boys and girls had fewer emerged teeth as compared to their peers of normal supine length/stature. The stunted children have a significantly greater likelihood of delayed emergence of deciduous dentition.