Forensic Age Estimation Using Tooth Eruption Status in Children: A Correlative Study With Chronological Age

Introduction: Forensic age estimation is essential in clinical and legal settings, particularly in children, where reliable and non-invasive methods are required. Tooth eruption follows a relatively consistent developmental pattern and may serve as a practical indicator of chronological age during the mixed-dentition period. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between cumulative tooth eruption status and chronological age in children and to develop a predictive model for age estimation. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 120 children aged 6-13 years in the Department of Oral Pathology at Jawahar Medical Foundation's Annasaheb Chudaman Patil Memorial Dental College, Dhule. Chronological age was calculated in decimal years using verified birth records. Clinical examination of 28 permanent teeth (excluding third molars) was performed, and eruption status was scored as 0 (unerupted), 1 (partially erupted), or 2 (fully erupted), with cumulative scores calculated for each participant. Data were statistically analyzed. Normality was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey’s post-hoc analysis, Pearson’s correlation, and linear regression were applied. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: The mean chronological age was 9.8 ± 2.3 years, and the mean eruption score was 32.6 ± 8.4. No significant sex differences were observed in age (p = 0.134) or eruption score (p = 0.174). A significant increase in eruption score across age groups was observed (p < 0.001). Post-hoc analysis confirmed significant differences among all age groups (p < 0.05). A strong positive correlation was observed between the eruption score and chronological age (r = 0.72, p < 0.001). Simple linear regression analysis demonstrated that the eruption score significantly predicted age (R² = 0.62, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Cumulative tooth eruption status shows a strong association with chronological age and serves as a reliable, non-invasive indicator for age estimation in children, with good discriminatory ability and practical applicability in clinical and forensic settings.