Forensic Dentistry, Second Edition

274 Forensic dentistry

Moorrees et al.^28 developed the ordinal grading scheme shown in
Figure 13.3, and descriptions of these stages are given in Table 13.5. This is a
simplification of the sixteen-grade scheme developed by Gleiser and Hunt^50
and of the nineteen-grade scheme constructed by Fanning.^60 Moorrees and
coworkers presented their data in graphical form with the idea that each scor-
able tooth from a child’s examination would be marked on the graph, and
the resulting cluster of tooth-specific dental ages would serve as that child’s
range of dental ages. In practice, these graphs proved time-consuming and
ineffective (but they are commonly reproduced in the literature). Harris and
Buck “reverse engineered” these graphs to provide the data in a more usable
format (Tables 13.6 and 13.7).^68
Other normative data for tooth mineralization are available for North
America,15,43 Europe,69 –74 Eastern Europe,^75 and the Mideast.^76
Harris and McKee^15 developed formation standards for American blacks
and whites separately, since blacks tend to form their teeth faster. The data

Table 13.5 Definitions of Tooth Formation Stages

Single-Rooted

Teeth Definition

Multiple-Rooted

Teeth

1 Initial cusp formation: Amelogenesis has begun on the

individual cusp tips.

1

2 Coalescence of cusps: Centers of calcification are

merged but the entire border is not radiopaque.

2

3 Cusp outline complete: The coronal outline of the tooth

is mineralized.

3

4 Crown 1/2 formed: Amelogenesis has proceeded

halfway to the crown-root as judged from the

morphology of the radiopaque portion.

4

5 Crown 3/4 complete. 5

6 Crown complete: Morphologically, the crown has

mineralized but root formation has not begun.

6

7 Initial root formation: There is just a trace of root

radiopacity below the crown outline.

7

— Initial cleft formation: Mineralization is evident in the

interradicular area.

8

8 Root length 1/4: The radiographic morphology of the

root is 1/4 of its projected final size.

9

9 Root length 1/2 complete. 10

10 Root length 1/4 complete. 11

11 Root length complete. 12

12 Apex half closed: The lateral borders of the root tip

become convex rather than tapered as earlier.

13

13 Apical closure complete: Size of the apical foramen is

reduced to its mature size.

14

Source: Adapted from Moorrees et al.^27