Dental age can be determined through two methods - stage of eruption and stage of tooth mineralization on radiograph. The stage of eruption method is limited during quiescent eruption periods, while the stage of mineralization method relies on comparing the development of individual teeth to a fixed scale. This second method uses a point system to assess development and calculate a total that correlates to a dental age. It is considered sufficiently accurate when examining teeth 1-7 on the left lower quadrant.

1. Dental age
• Chronological and dental age are synchronous in the
normal patient.
• A child is labeled as an early or late developer if
there is a difference of +/- 2 years from the average
value.
• If the chronologic age of the patient is younger than
the dental age, one can rely on increased growth to
a greater degree than when dental age is retarded in
relation to the chronologic age ( and possibly
biologic age).
• Dental age can be determined two methods:
• - Stage of eruption
• - stage of tooth mineralization on radiograph
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2. Stage of Eruption
• Determination of dental age from observation of
eruption has been the only method available for a
long time
• In certain cases however, the accuracy of the
method is limited.
• During the quiescent period in eruption, this
appoach is inadequate.
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3. Stage of tooth mineralization on
radiograph (Demirjian et al 1973)
• When determining dental age radiographically
according to the stages of germinations, the degree of
the development of individual teeth is compared to a
fixed scale.
• For age determination one does not rely on the last
stage of tooth formation but on the entire process of
dental mineralization.
• The procedure can be used for the entire deciduous
and mixed dentition period, and is not influnced by
early loss of deciduous teeth.
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4. • The calculation is made using a point evaluation
system.
• Each tooth is given a point value according to its
state of development.
• The sum of individual points gives the
development value, which can be transferred into
the dental age with the aid of standard tables.
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5. • The smaller the sum of points, the younger the
dental age; the higher the sum, the older the dental
age.
• Experience shows that the method is sufficiently
accurate if the stage of mineralization of teeth 1-7
in the left lower quadrant is examined.
• The procedure is not valid for patients with several
congenitally absent teeth.
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6. • The smaller the sum of points, the younger the
dental age; the higher the sum, the older the dental
age.
• Experience shows that the method is sufficiently
accurate if the stage of mineralization of teeth 1-7
in the left lower quadrant is examined.
• The procedure is not valid for patients with several
congenitally absent teeth.
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