Skip to main content
Institute of Dentistry - Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry

Breadcrumb

  1. Institute of Dentistry
  2. Atlas

Atlas of tooth development and eruption

We have developed a comprehensive evidence based atlas to estimate age using both tooth development and alveolar eruption for individuals between 28 weeks in utero to 23 years; it shows a sequence of diagrams representing a continuum of developmental ages without gaps or overlaps 1.c

Data was collected from developing teeth from 72 pre-natal and 104 post-natal skeletal remains of known age-at-death were examined from collections held at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, and the Natural History Museum, London UK (M 91, F 72, unknown sex 13) 2,3. Data was also collected from archived dental radiographs of living individuals (M 264, F 264) 4.

Median stage for tooth development and eruption for all age categories was used to construct the atlas. Tooth development was determined according to Moorrees, Fanning and Hunt 5,6 and eruption was assessed relative to the alveolar bone level 7,8. Intra-examiner reproducibility was 0.85 calculated using Kappa on 755 teeth (65 individuals). 

Diagrams were drawn to represent monthly dental development in the last trimester, 2 weeks around a full gestation (40 weeks birth), quarterly development for the first year of life, and yearly development thereafter.

Atlas of Human Tooth Development and Eruption diagrams

This atlas can be downloaded and used for teaching purposes or individual learning. 

Atlas of tooth development PDF [PDF 1,049KB]

This is an updated version that is accessible (November 2025). Translated versions have not been updated.

The 3rd edition of electronic interactive software is now available.

Playback mode shows standard deviation for males and females combined for each age category (from AlQahtani et al. 9). 

References

  1. AlQahtani S J (2008). Atlas of tooth development and eruption. Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry. London, Queen Mary University of London. MClinDent.
  2. Stack M V (1960). Forensic Estimation of Age in Infancy by Gravimetric Observations on the Developing Dentition. Journal of the Forensic Science Society 1(1):49-59.
  3. Liversidge H M, Molleson T I (1999). Developing permanent tooth length as an estimate of age. Journal of Forensic Sciences 44:917-920.
  4. AlQahtani S J, Liversidge H M, Hector M P (2010). Atlas of tooth development and eruption. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 142(3):481-90.
  5. Moorrees C F A, Fanning E A, Hunt E E (1963a). Age Variation of Formation Stages for Ten Permanent Teeth. Journal of Dental Research 42:1490-502. 
  6. Moorrees C F A, Fanning E A, Hunt E E (1963b). Formation and Resorption of Three Decideous Teeth in Children. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 21:205-13.
  7. Bengston R G (1935). A study of the time of eruption and root development of the permanent teeth between six and thirteen years. Northwest University Bulletin 35:3-9.
  8. Liversidge H M, Molleson T I (2004). Variation in crown and root formation and eruption of human deciduous teeth. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 123(2):172-80.
  9. AlQahtani S J, Liversidge H M, Hector M P (2014). Accuracy of Dental Age Estimation Charts: Schour and Massler, Ubelaker, and the London Atlas. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 154:70-78.

Contact

Dr. Helen Liversidge
Email: h.m.liversidge@qmul.ac.uk

We are sad to inform you of the passing of Sakher Jaber AlQahtani 1978-2025.

Accessible version of Atlas is licenced under Creative Commons. This means you are free to share, copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format, you must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes are made, you may not use the material for commercial purposes or distribute modified versions.

Translated versions: copyright is granted to all by the AlQahtani family in perputiuity.

© Copyright registration number: VAu000979741

Back to top