Q: According to the image, the patient is most likely:
radiology dental hygiene exam prep

Q: According to the image, the patient is most likely:

radiology dental hygiene exam prep

Q: According to the image, the patient is most likely:

(A). 3-4 years old
(B). 6-7 years old
(C). 8-9 years old
(D). 11-12 years old

When the patient is less than 8-9 years old, none of the permanent teeth will have completed roots. This is because roots of permanent teeth are completed approximately 2.5-3 years after their eruption. For example, the permanent first molar erupts around the age of 6, but the roots are considered fully grown when the apexes close at around age 8.5-9.

On the radiograph, we can see that the patient’s mandibular first molars are fully developed. This leads us to assume that the patient is at least 8-9 years old.

We may also arrive at a tentative determination for dental age based on the next tooth erupting in this sequence. In this case, they are the mandibular canine (which typically erupts at 11-12 years), mandibular premolar (typically erupts at 10-11 years), and mandibular second molar (typically erupts at 11-13 years). Therefore, we can conclude that the child is between 10 and 13 years old.

Answer: D. 11-12 years old

Simplified method for the dental hygiene boards

  • Have the permanent mandibular first molars erupted?
    • Yes: the child is older than 6 years old.
  • Are the roots of the permanent mandibular first molar completed?
    • Yes: the child is older than 8-9 years old.
  • What is the next tooth to be erupting?
    • If it is the mandibular premolars, the child is 9-11 years old.
    • If it is the mandibular canines, the child is 11-12 years old.
  • Have the mandibular second molars erupted? Yes: the child is older than 11-13 years old.

Learn more for the dental hygiene boards

As a review, here is the eruption pattern of the permanent teeth:

  • Maxillary
    • Central incisor: 7-8 years
    • Lateral incisor: 8-9 years
    • Canine: 11-12 years
    • First premolar: 10-11 years
    • Second premolar: 10-12 years
    • First molar: 6-7 years
    • Second molar: 12-13 years
    • Third molar: 17-21 years
  • Mandibular
    • Central incisor: 6-7 years
    • Lateral incisor: 7-8 years
    • Canine: 9-10 years
    • First premolar: 10-12 years
    • Second premolar: 11-12 years
    • First molar: 6-7 years
    • Second molar: 11-13 years
    • Third molar: 17-21 years

This information is important for the Dental Hygiene Boards, especially the case studies. Radiographs are part of the NBDHE and NDHCE. Special note: if you are taking the CSCE (written exam of the CDCA), you MUST know how to read the age on a panoramic radiograph.

Pass on this really important information to your friends and classmates! So far, we have provided a lot of review material through StudentRDH Weekly Vitamins. If you have suggestions or requests about other content for FREE mini-reviews, please email me at ClaireJ@StudentRDH.com. It is my responsibility to offer the content you need in order to become a successful hygienist! Have another amazing day!

Related post: Overcome exam anxiety, how?

(Disclaimer: StudentRDH is NOT affiliated with the NBDHE, NDHCE, CSCE, CDCA, WREB.)

Written by
Claire Jeong, RDH, MS

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