87 Dental Journal (Majalah Kedokteran Gigi) 2023 June; 56(2): 87–91 Original article Using the Demirjian method for estimating the dental age of children in Surabaya, Indonesia Beshlina Fitri Widayanti Roosyanto Prakoeswa 1 , Arofi Kurniawan 1 , An’nisaa Chusida 1 , Beta Novia Rizky 1 , Anugerah I’zaaz Darmawan 2 , Andini Kamilia Nur Aisyah 2 , Aspalilah Alias 3 1 Department of Forensic Odontology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia 2 Undergraduate student of Dental Medicine Education Study Program, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia 3 Department of Basic Sciences and Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia ABSTRACT Background: The Demirjian method is used in assessing the stages of growth and development of teeth to calculate a person’s estimated age. In 1973, Demirjian identified the eight stages of tooth growth and development and their respective criteria. Purpose: To analyze the validity of Demirjian’s method for estimating dental age among children aged 6–17 years old in Surabaya, Indonesia. Methods: From August–October 2020, 162 panoramic radiographs of patients aged 6–17 years were taken at the radiology department of Airlangga Dental Hospital. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software for different tests, including a paired t test. Results: Using the Demirjian method, there was no significant dissimilarity between chronological age (CA) and estimated dental age (EDA) in the male group. However, a significant dissimilarity was found between CA and EDA in the female group. Conclusion: Demirjian’s method can be used as a tool for estimating the dental age of males age 6-17 years old in Surabaya. Keywords: children; Demirjian method; dental age estimation; forensic odontology; panoramic Article history: Received 6 June 2022; Revised 31 August 2022; Accepted 9 September 2022 Correspondence: Arofi Kurniawan, Department of Forensic Odontology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Universitas Airlangga. Jl. Mayjen Prof. Dr. Moestopo 47 Surabaya 60132, Indonesia. Email: arofi.kurniawan@fkg.unair.ac.id INTRODUCTION Indonesia is an archipelago of thousands of islands connected by straits and seas located between the Asian and Australian continents and the Indian and Pacific oceans. 1 Indonesia is prone to natural disasters caused by geographical conditions, climate and geology. 2 In the case of a mass disaster, age estimation can simplify the identification of victims and enable grouping by ages. 3 An estimate of age can also be necessary for living individuals involved in criminal or civil law cases, including falsification of employment age, marriage, athletes, child guardianship, immigration, or rape. 4 Legally valid evidence of age is important to determine whether an individual is legally a child or an adult, and there are differences in legal and judicial processes for children and adults. 5 Age estimation is also valuable evidence when a birth certificate does not exist or is in doubt. The body parts that are generally used for age estimation are skeletal and dental. 6 Skeletal maturation as a tool for age estimation has limitations because age can only be estimated within a certain range and with a large age standard deviation. In comparison, teeth have several advantages as an age estimation medium, including the ability to estimate the age of an individual from prenatal through to adulthood. 7 Assessment of tooth growth and development can be performed clinically or radiographically. The radiographic method has advantages because it is easier than other methods, is non-invasive, and can be performed on living or dead humans. One of the radiographic methods used was developed by Demirjian et al. 8 and groups tooth growth and development into eight stages with their respective criteria. The Demirjian method is used in assessing the stages of growth and development of teeth to estimate chronological age, but it can also be used to see how much tooth development and growth has occured. 9 In this study, panoramic radiograph images were used to assess tooth growth and development via the Demirjian method. Panoramic photos are easy to obtain and simple Copyright © 2023 Dental Journal (Majalah Kedokteran Gigi) p-ISSN: 1978-3728; e-ISSN: 2442-9740. Accredited No. 158/E/KPT/2021. Open access under CC-BY-SA license. Available at https://e-journal.unair.ac.id/MKG/index DOI: 10.20473/j.djmkg.v56.i2.p87–91