Eruption Sequence
Definition
The order in which teeth emerge into the oral cavity. Less precise than calcification staging because eruption timing shows more individual variation, but useful when only clinical examination is available.
- Measures
- Order in which teeth emerge into the oral cavity
- Precision
- Lower than calcification staging
- Use case
- Clinical exam when radiographs are unavailable
Common questions
Why is eruption sequence less reliable for age estimation than calcification staging?+
Eruption timing is affected by more individual, nutritional and population variation than the internal calcification stages visible on radiographs, so it gives a wider and less precise age estimate.
When would an examiner rely on eruption sequence despite its lower precision?+
When only a clinical oral examination is possible and dental radiographs cannot be obtained, eruption sequence still provides a usable, if broader, age estimate for a sub-adult.
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...
- Demirjian Stages (A-H)
- Eight illustrated calcification stages covering a tooth from initial cusp formation (A) to complete root apex closure (H), scored from a standardised...
- 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....