Age estimation using 2 nd molar development: An efficient indicator of adolescent age

: Background and objectives. Assessment of stage of Tooth development is a reliable method for age estimation. Most of the studies emphasize the use of stages of eruption of third molar in forensics and very little is known about the efficacy of the second molar. Thus, our present study we evaluated the efficacy of developmental staging of second and third molars to predict the age of ≤ 14 year old individual. Material and Methods. Digital radiographs of 404 individuals aged between 7-20 years were retrieved. 10 stages of tooth development advocated by Kohler et al. was used to assess the developmental stages of second and third molars. Regression equations were derived to estimate age using second and third molar development stages. Results. When compared to third molars, the formula derived using second molars, was seen to provide better results in identifying the adolescence status (98.4 %) when compared to childhood (63.01%). Also the estimation was better seen females than in males in distinguishing the age of >14 years. Conclusion. Thus, dental age estimation by using second molar could be a valuable indicator of age in young adults. Also, in medicolegal cases, second molars could be useful to identify children ≤14 years, could be used with other adjuvant measures. Key Words: Adolescence, legal issues, second molar, Demerijians