A cross-sectional study of tooth maturation was carried out in a group of 382 healthy children (178 boys and 204 girls) from Sardinia. A single orthopantomogram was examined for each patient and the development of permanent mandibular canines, premolars, and molars was evaluated according to Moorrees' method [Moorrees CFA, Fanning EA, Hunt EE: J Dent Res 42:1490-1502, 1963] Dental maturity scores and chronological ages were processed by linear regression analysis. Significant differences were observed in the timing of tooth development between boys and girls. A visual comparison with North American children revealed appreciable differences between the two populations, accounting for a delayed dental maturation in Sardinian children.