growth and development

lecture given 9/28/2026

growth

changes in size, anatomic

development

changes in complexity, physiologic

physical growth patterns

reflect proportionality of body parts to one another

also, proportional changes over time

relative to size of head/body changes with time

how does the skull grow?

downward and forward

more facial growth occurs _____ compared to ____ growth

postnatally

cranial

variability

differences in size between individuals

expressed as percentiles

help to discriminate between normal and abnormal growth

occurs due to normal variation, abnormal events, and timing effects

timing

growth events occur at different chronological ages in different individuals

*the general pattern of physical growth after birth is….

a continuation of the late fetal period with rapid growth and a continuing increase in height and weight, although the rate of growth does diminish

growth effects of timing can be seen particularly clearly in…

young girls, as menarch gives a defined indicator of sexual maturity

although the timing is different between individuals…

the velocity (pattern) of growth is quite similar

secular growth trend

more rapid growth and earlier maturation

best illustrated by ages at onset of menarche among girls in western countries

*at birth, maxillary and mandibular alveolar processes are…

poorly developed

*development of the primary dentition occurs…

in utero

*the dates of eruption are _____, although the eruption sequence is usually _____

quite variable

fixed

primate spacing

space at mesial of max canines and distal of mand canines

oral functions tend to develop from…

what are examples of this?

front to back

lips are relatively mature at birth, hence, the child is capable of suckling

this pattern is reflected in the acquisition of speech (M, B bilabial sounds before silibants like S and Z)

infant swallowing patterns continues until…

weaning, after which a gradual transition to a more adult swallowing pattern

nearly all children engage in some sort of non-nutritive sucking during these years

t/f the chewing patterns of adults and children are different

true- children’s are much more lateral

usually the transition coincides with the eruption of the permanent canines

what is the general order of maxillary primary teeth calcifying, crown completed, and root completed?

central incisor, lateral incisor, first molar, canine, second molar

what is the general order of mandibular primary teeth calcifying, crown completed, and root completed?

central incisor, lateral incisor, first molar, canine, second molar

what is the general order of maxillary permanent teeth calcifying, crown completed, and root completed?

first molar, central incisor, lateral incisor, first premolar, second premolar, canine, second molar, third molar

what is the general order of mandibular permanent teeth calcifying, crown completed, and root completed?

first molar, central incisor, lateral incisor, first premolar, second premolar/canine, second molar, third molar

early mixed dentition

age 6

near simultaneous eruption of the first permanent molars and permanent central incisors

mixed dentition age 8

eruption of lateral incisors

mixed dentition age 9

eruption of lateral incisors has been complete for a year and root formation of permanent first molars and central incisors is complete

late mixed dentition age 11

near simultaneous eruption of the mandibular first premolars, mandibular canines, and the maxillary first premolars

late mixed dentition age 12

remaining succedaneous teeth erupt

typically the second permanent molars erupt shortly thereafter

permanent dentition

age 15

root formation of erupted permanent teeth is complete and crown formation of 3rd molars is complete

behavior

result of genetically determined innate or instinctual behavior patterns and temperament and learned behavior

generally environmental influences are greater on social and behavioral development than on physical growth

classical conditioning

operant conditioning

modeling or observational learning

classical conditioning

pavlov

unconditioned stimulus (pain)

conditioned stimulus (white coats)

generalization

discrimination

each time they occur together, the association is strengthened, reinforcement

operant conditioning

skinner

attempts to explain complex human behaviors and personality in terms of conditioning

downplays the role of the individuals conscious determination in favor of unconscious determined behavior

differs from classical conditioning in that the consequence of a behavior is considered a stimulus for future behavior

that is, the consequence of an action determines the probability of that action

observational learning

modeling

acquisition, occurs by observation

performance, follows acquisition

many influences on whether behaviors that are observed are subsquently performed

consequences

role model

during physical development, a child is also developing ______ and _____

both of which can impact our interactions with them during dental treatment

emotionally, cognitively