Eruption Pattern of Permanentcanine and Premolar Teeth among School Children aged 10 to 12 Years in a Rural Area: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Forensic dentistry is a specialized field that evaluates dental evidence to identify unidentified individuals and missing persons in legal proceedings. Dental charts are compared with known records to establish identity. Accurate age determination is crucial, and dental age assessment is reliable up to 17 years. The study aims to analyze permanent teeth eruption patterns of canines and premolars in school children aged 10 to 12, contributing valuable insights for accurate age determination and identification in legal cases. The research seeks to aid the interest of justice in criminal, civil, and employment-related scenarios by understanding dental eruption patterns in this age group.Methods: This was across-sectional study conducted among the school children of south Kerala belonging to age group of 10-12 years. Eruption pattern of permanent canines and premolars of 562 subjects were recorded and analyzed using SPSS software.Conclusion: Sequence of eruption pattern of permanent canines and premolars were compared and it was observed with statistical significance that eruption of canineprecedes the eruption of second premolars. All the teeth erupted earlier in females compared to males.There was a significant relation with reduced body mass index and delayed eruption of teeth.