An abandoned child of unknown age is brought for examination. Intraoral inspection shows a complete set of twenty deciduous teeth, all well formed and in occlusion, with no permanent teeth erupted anywhere in the mouth. The most likely age bracket is:
- A 1 to 2 years
- B 3 to 5 years ✓
- C 6 to 8 years
- D 9 to 11 years
Correct answer: B. 3 to 5 years
Explanation
The deciduous dentition is complete by about two and a half to three years, when the second deciduous molars erupt. The first permanent tooth, the first permanent molar, erupts at about six years. A child with a full complement of twenty deciduous teeth and no erupted permanent teeth therefore falls between roughly three and six years. Option A is excluded because the second deciduous molars would not yet have erupted, and options C and D require erupted permanent teeth.
Reference: Parikh's Textbook of Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology, 7th ed.
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