The aim of the present study was to investigate the variability in permanent tooth emergence sequences in Flemish children. Data were obtained in the Signal-Tandmobiel project, a 6-yr prospective longitudinal oral health screening survey in Belgium. Bayesian statistical analyses, taking into account the interval-censored character of the data, were performed. The analyses indicated that no sequence was common in a quadrant to more than 19% of the sample. When only those emergence sequences are considered with a prevalence of 1% or more, 21 variations can be expected in the maxilla and 15-22 variations in the mandible. These variations 'cover' 84-88% of all sequences. The presentation of emergence sequences solely based on means or medians should thus be regarded as misleading.