The present study was aimed to estimate the age of an individual by morphological analysis of third molar maturity on orthopantomograph. The study was undertaken at the Dept of Orthodontics, Rural Dental College, Loni, from 1st March 09 to 31st August 09, among students of Rural Dental College, Loni in the age group of 16 to 23 years. Assessment and fixing of age of a person in these age groups is necessary in issues pertaining to establishing criminal responsibility, dispensing judicial punishment, classification of an offence as rape and kidnapping, validity of marriage contract and attainment of majority. Orthopantomograph of 196 subjects were taken, of which half i.e. 98 were male and 98 were females. Developmental stages of 3rd molars in all four quadrants were evaluated using Demirjian 8 stage scoring scale. The predominant developmental stage in age 16 years in all quadrants was ‘D’. In females it appeared in the range of 60-70%, while it was in the range of 71.4- 86 % in males. In age 18 years predominant development stage in females in upper jaw was ‘F’ in 60 % cases, while in lower jaw it was in the range of 20-40 %. Stage ‘G’ was seen in 20 % cases in all quadrants. Stage ‘H’ appeared in upper jaw in 20 % cases. In males predominant stages seen in upper jaw were ‘F’ and ‘G’ in 50 % cases each. In the lower jaw ‘F’ was the predominant stage followed by ‘G’ in 33.3 % cases. Our study results confirm the utility of morphological analysis of third molar maturity by Demirjian 8 stage classification on orthopantomograph as a means of estimating biological age of the subjects and can be practically implemented.

Key words: Dental age, Third molar, Demirjian’s score scale, orthopantomograph