The distributions of the developmental stages of the mandibular teeth
have been studied according to the method by Demirjian et al (1973), i
n Swedish children. 197 panoramic radiographs of children aged 5, 6, 9
and 12 years were collected and examined by each of 13 independent pe
dodontists, radiologists and forensic odontologists, The results showe
d that the individual variation of tooth development was large, and th
at children of the same age generally showed a dispersion over four st
ages, and that, in extreme cases, children of 5 and 12 years of age co
uld show the same developmental stages, Generally girls were ahead of
the boys in development at all ages. It thus appears as if any method
for age determination of children with aid of tooth development will b
e suffering from a rather wide range of uncertainty owing to the indiv
idual variation.