Demirjian Stages (A-H)
Definition
Eight illustrated calcification stages covering a tooth from initial cusp formation (A) to complete root apex closure (H), scored from a standardised radiographic view. Developed by Demirjian, Goldstein, and Tanner in 1973 from a Montreal reference sample.
- Stages used
- A to H (eight stages)
- Developers
- Demirjian, Goldstein, Tanner
- Year
- 1973
- Reference sample
- Montreal population
Common questions
What does Stage A versus Stage H represent in this scoring system?+
Stage A marks the earliest visible sign of cusp formation in a developing tooth, while Stage H marks the root apex fully closed, so the letters track a tooth's entire calcification sequence from start to finish.
Why is the Montreal origin of this scale relevant to its forensic use?+
Because the stages were calibrated on a specific reference population, examiners applying it elsewhere should be aware the resulting age estimate carries some population-specific bias unless local calibration data exists.
Related terms
- Calcification Stage
- A discrete described increment of tooth mineralisation, from initial deposition of the crown cusps through completion of root and apex. Calcification staging...
- Eruption Sequence
- The order in which teeth emerge into the oral cavity. Less precise than calcification staging because eruption timing shows more individual variation,...
- London Atlas
- A visual atlas published by AlQahtani, Hector, and Liversidge in 2010 showing expected tooth development and eruption for all deciduous and permanent...
- Panoramic Radiograph
- A single wide-field dental X-ray showing all teeth simultaneously in both jaws. The standard imaging tool for sub-adult dental age assessment because...
- Population Bias (Dental Methods)
- The systematic difference between the reference sample on which a method was calibrated and the study population to which it is applied....