Nolla’s stages are a widely used method in dentistry to evaluate tooth development through crown and root formation.
📌 Recommended Article :
Video 🔽 Tooth Development and Eruption - Odontogenesis ... We share a video that offers us details of the development process (odontogenesis) until the eruption of the teeth.They are essential in pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, and oral surgery, as they allow clinicians to estimate dental age and improve treatment planning accuracy.
Advertisement
✅ Introduction
Determining dental age is a key procedure in several dental specialties. One of the most applied methods is Nolla’s stages, first proposed in 1960, which classify tooth development into 11 stages, ranging from no calcification to complete apical closure (Nolla, 1960).
This system is clinically valuable for diagnostic, therapeutic, and forensic purposes, as it provides a biological maturity estimate rather than relying solely on chronological age.
📌 Recommended Article :
Video 🔽 Formation and development of the face and oral cavity (Orofacial Complex) ... The formation of the face starts from the five prominences (one frontonasal, two maxillary and two mandibular). The prominences develop giving rise to different regions of the face.✅ Definition of Nolla’s Stages
Nolla’s classification is a radiographic method describing dental development across 11 consecutive stages, from no calcification (stage 0) to closed root apex (stage 10).
✅ Clinical Importance
Nolla’s stages are used to:
° Estimate dental age in children and adolescents.
° Plan orthodontic treatment, identifying the right timing for interceptive interventions.
° Support pediatric dentistry, especially in patients with delayed or altered tooth development.
° Assist forensic investigations, by estimating age in legal and anthropological contexts.
📌 Recommended Article :
Dental Article 🔽 Nolla Stages in Dental Age Estimation: Characteristics, Importance, and Applications ... This method delineates ten distinct stages of tooth maturation, from the initial presence of a crypt to the complete formation of the root apex.✅ Comparison with Other Methods
Compared to systems such as Demirjian or Moorrees, Nolla’s method is simpler and widely accepted. However, some studies suggest it may underestimate age in certain populations (Lee et al., 2022).
💬 Discussion
The relevance of Nolla’s stages remains strong due to their practicality and broad clinical applications. Nonetheless, their accuracy may vary depending on the studied population. For this reason, many authors recommend combining Nolla’s system with other age estimation techniques.
In clinical practice, they are particularly useful in orthodontics and pediatric dentistry, where treatment timing depends heavily on dental maturity.
📌 Recommended Article :
Video 🔽 Development of tooth (Odontogenesis) Part I - II ... The development of teeth, also known as odontogenesis, is the process by which not only teeth are formed, but also the supporting tissues, the jaws, and the circulatory and nervous systems of the oral cavity.✍️ Conclusion
Nolla’s stages represent a reliable diagnostic tool in dentistry, allowing clinicians to assess tooth development and estimate dental age with reasonable accuracy. Their use enhances treatment planning, improves prognostic evaluation, and supports both clinical and forensic decision-making.
📚 References
✔ Lee, J. Y., Kim, Y. K., & Park, J. H. (2022). Accuracy of Nolla’s stages in dental age estimation across populations: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Forensic Odonto-Stomatology, 40(1), 15–22.
✔ Nolla, C. M. (1960). The development of the permanent teeth. Journal of Dentistry for Children, 27(4), 254–266.
✔ Willems, G., Van Olmen, A., Spiessens, B., & Carels, C. (2001). Dental age estimation in Belgian children: Demirjian’s technique revisited. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 46(4), 893–895.
✔ AlQahtani, S. J., Hector, M. P., & Liversidge, H. M. (2010). Brief communication: The London atlas of human tooth development and eruption. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 142(3), 481–490. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.21258 br />
📌 More Recommended Items
► Nolla's Stages of Tooth Development - Video
► Medications and Developing Teeth: Dental Risks, Mechanisms, and Prevention in Children
► Nolla Stages: Clinical Guide and Comparative Table