What skeletal method is often utilized for estimating age in juveniles?

The skeletal method commonly utilized for estimating age in juveniles is dental analysis. This approach is particularly effective because dental development follows a relatively consistent timeline across populations, making it a reliable indicator of age. In the juvenile stage, teeth undergo several stages of formation and eruption, which can be observed radiographically or through direct examination.

While other methods like iliac crest fusion, cranial suture analysis, and long bone length measurement can provide insights into overall skeletal maturity, they are less effective than dental analysis in accurately determining age in children and adolescents. Teeth are less influenced by environmental factors and provide a window into the biological age of a juvenile that is typically more stable than skeletal elements. This specificity in dental development makes it the method of choice for age estimation in young individuals.