Importance of Dental Age and Skeletal Age in Forensic Sciences for the Assessment of Pediatric Growth and Development

Age determination plays an important aspect in the clinical practice of Paediatric medicine, Endocrinology, Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics. It also plays an important role in Forensic medicine not only in identification of bodies but also in connection with crimes and accidents. It has also helped in determining the nutritional status of children in various public health programmes The study was carried out at the Department of Paediatric Dentistry, SDM College of Dental Sciences, Dharwad on 250 children aged 5–15 years. This led to the conclusion that the Moorees method underestimates the dental age in Hubli-Dharwad (Northern Part of Karnataka State, South India) children therefore certain modifications or newer methods should be devised which are sensitive to the present population.