Studying eruption patterns of mandibular third molars for forensic age assessment: Introducing current reference data from a population of black South Africans

Evaluation of the eruption of mandibular third molars in orthopantomograms (OPGs) is a method of forensic age assessment. The objective of our study was to provide valid reference data for this trait within a population of black South Africans. The study was guided by the criteria for reference studies in age assessment.