Summary The aim of the study was to define the developmental stage of the permanent mandibular canine roots at different ages. The study was performed on a sample of 500 orthopantomographs taken from children aged between 6 and 14 years (236 boys and 264 girls), all of whom were orthodontic patients in Clinic of Stomatology, Nish. We used a method by Gleiser and Hunt and modification by Tijanic to analyse the developmental stages of the permanent mandibular canine roots as well as to define the symmetry of their development on both sides. Our results indicate the following: three stages of root development of the permanent mandibular canines are present at the age of 7,in the same sequence for both genders (7, 6 and 8). These are the developmental stages most present within certain age categories in both genders: stage 7 at the age of 8; stage 8 at the age of 9; stage 8 at the age of 10; stage 9 at the age of 11. Higher developmental stages are present within certain age categories in girls, except the age of 7, considering that the higher developmental stage is most present in girls of 12, when compared to boys of the same age (10 for girls, 9 for boys). Only the minority of subjects had asymmetric canines. Our results indicate that the dental age of the permanent mandibular canines is higher in girls, when compared to boys of the same age. .
