How are teeth used to estimate age?

• A. Teeth mature at a fairly predictable rate.
• B. Teeth contain DNA markers that indicate age.
• C. Teeth stop growing after adolescence.
• D. Teeth color correlates with age.

Answer: (A)

Teeth mature at a fairly predictable rate, which makes dental development a useful clock for age estimation. From prenatal formation through childhood, teeth pass through well-defined stages of mineralization, eruption, and root formation. By examining a person’s teeth—often with radiographs—you can see which teeth have erupted and how far their roots have developed or closed. These developmental stages map onto specific age ranges, and standardized methods (like scoring tooth development across several teeth) yield an age estimate with known confidence. While there is some natural variation due to genetics, health, and nutrition, the overall pattern is consistent enough to be reliable for children and adolescents. The other ideas aren’t standard methods: teeth don’t literally contain DNA markers that indicate age for routine estimates, teeth don’t keep growing into adulthood in a way that provides a simple age cue, and color changes from staining or wear aren’t precise indicators of age.