A review of investigational methods used in dentition based age determination

Abstract

Selected ontogenetic age estimation methods based on the examination of teeth are reviewed. The authors have presented examination techniques used for determining "dental age", focusing on those utilising morphological changes that take place in hard tissues of the tooth at various stages of life. The authors consider that methods developed for other populations cannot be indiscriminately applied to the Polish population. Furthermore, due to the so-called secular trend, each of these methods should be periodically verified with the aim of developing an optimal odontological formula. In order to estimate age, a series of objectively measurable features should be taken into account in conjunction with the use of various examination techniques.