Estimation of Gestational Age From Tooth Germs: Biometric Study of DentaScan Images

• NCJ Number: 233681
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 56 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2011 Pages: 220-223
• Author(s): Loic Lalys, Ph.D.; Michel Ruquet, D.D.S.; Delphine Tardivo, D.D.S.; Salim Laibi, D.D.S.; Christophe Bartoli, M.D., Ph.D.; Pascal Adalian, Ph.D.; Michel Panuel, M.D., Ph.D.; Georges Leonetti, M.D., Ph.D.; Bruno Foti, D.D.S., Ph.D.
• Date Published: January 2011
• Length: 4 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The few available studies on fetal age estimation concern very small samples, and statistical analysis is sometimes inadequate. In this survey, the authors used germs of deciduous teeth to estimate fetal age.

Abstract

Forty-nine fetuses and 40 mandibles were scanned, and observations and measurements were made on DentaScan images. After checking their repeatability and reproducibility (analysis of variance), the authors defined thresholds using Fisher's linear discriminant analysis to calculate the probability that a fetus was over or below a predefined age threshold. The forensic threshold which is of particular interest in France is 22 weeks amenorrhea. Relationships between fetal age and deciduous germ measurements were then sought by multiple linear regression. The thresholds gave very good results: 91.84 percent of good probability for the threshold of 22 weeks amenorrhea with no chance of error. The most precise age evaluation obtained nevertheless gave a range of +/- 4.6 weeks amenorrhea, so greater accuracy is still needed. (Published Abstract) Figures, table, and references