Dental age estimation in children and adolescents: A narrative review

Jeet Bhalodia¹ image, Dinesh Rao2 image, Sunil Panwar3 image, Surbhi Sharma4 image, Manan Phalke5 image

Highlights

Dental age estimation is vital in forensics for legal age assessment, identification, disaster victim identification.

Dental age estimation uses radiographic, biochemical, and morphological methods, with  accuracy varying by age and population.

Dental development varies across population, so multiple methods and population-based studies improve accuracy in age estimation.

Abstract

Dental age estimation is a fundamental component of pediatric dentistry and forensic science, particularly in situations where reliable chronological age records are unavailable. Early dental age assessment approaches established the basis for age estimation, while contemporary radiographic methods such as the Willems modification, the open apex method, and the third molar index (I₃M) are currently the most widely used techniques in children and adolescents. These methods are favored because they combine practical applicability with acceptable accuracy and can be adapted to different populations through appropriate calibration. Biochemical techniques, including carbon-14 dating and aspartic acid racemization, offer high precision in selected forensic contexts but are limited by their invasive nature and reliance on specialized laboratory facilities. Recent advances in magnetic resonance imaging and artificial intelligence have introduced new possibilities for dental age estimation by improving objectivity and analytical efficiency. However, these approaches remain under validation and are not yet suitable for routine clinical or forensic use. This narrative review provides an updated and comprehensive overview of dental age estimation methods applicable to children and adolescents, with particular emphasis on their underlying principles, strengths, limitations, population sensitivity, and current relevance in clinical and forensic practice.

Keywords: Adolescents; Children; Dental Age Estimation; Forensic Anthropology; Forensic Odontology

Author Affiliations

  1. Postgraduate Student, Department of Pediatric Dentistry,  Pacific Dental College and Hospital, India
  2. Prof., Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Pacific  Dental College  and Hospital, India  (Correspondence:pedodinesh2003@gmail.com)
  3. Prof., Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Pacific Dental College  and Hospital, India
  4. Senior Lecturer,  Department of  Pediatric Dentistry, Pacific Dental College and Hospital, India
  5. Senior Lecturer, Department of  Pediatric Dentistry, Pacific Dental College and Hospital, India
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Article Info

Contemp Pediatr Dent 2025:6(3):211-228

Received: 01 May 2025

Accepted: 10 October 2025

Online First: 28 December 2025

DOI: 10.51463/cpd.2025.20

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					Jeet Bhalodia, Dinesh Rao, Sunil Panwar, Surbhi Sharma, Manan Phalke. Dental age estimation in children and adolescents: A narrative review. Contemp Pediatr Dent 2025:6(3):211-228

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