Dental Age Estimation in Children: A Review

Teeth are extremely useful in the estimation of age and are preferable over other skeletal methods As they are durable in archaeological contexts, have minimal remodeling, and the growth of permanent and deciduous teeth continues over the entire juvenile period [1,2]. Formation of deciduous teeth begins in utero at about 4 months and permanent teeth complete formation at approximately 25 years of age [1]. Also, dental development, in particular dental formation, is less affected by environmental factors than skeletal growth and development used in the estimation of age including epiphyseal fusion and long bone growth [3]. Rai [4] and Smith [5] found that the dental development is more reliable as an indicator of biological maturity in children that can be used from infancy to late adolescence. It is found that chronological age is synchronous with dental age in a normal child.