Pediatric Dentistry · single question
A 5-year-old patient has erupted lower permanent incisors. Which of the following is correct regarding the patient's chronological age relative to dental age?
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Correct answer: A. The chronological age is AHEAD of dental age (early dental development)
Lower permanent central incisors typically erupt at 6–7 years of age. If a 5-year-old has already erupted lower permanent incisors, the dental development (dental age) is AHEAD of the chronological age (5 years). The child's teeth are erupting earlier than the average chronological schedule. The question asks about chronological age relative to dental age: chronological age (5) is less than dental age (expected 6-7), meaning the child is dentally advanced.
- A. CORRECT. If permanent mandibular incisors erupt at age 5 (norm: 6-7 years), dental age exceeds chronological age — meaning the child's chronological age is 'behind' (less than) their dental development, or equivalently, dental development is ahead of chronological age.
- B. Incorrect. 'Behind dental age' would mean the child has NOT yet erupted teeth expected for their chronological age — the opposite situation.
- C. Incorrect. Normal eruption at 6-7 years for a 5-year-old means the teeth arrived early — there is a discrepancy.
- D. Incorrect. Early eruption of permanent teeth at 5 years is advanced but not pathological — it represents accelerated dental development.
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