NCJ Number
207718
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 49 Issue: 6 Dated: November 2004 Pages: 1319-1323
Date Published
November 2004
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This study describes a method for assessing adult age based on the relationship between age and measurement of the pulp/tooth area ratio (RA) on second molar teeth.
Abstract
In an attempt to improve the precision and reliability of age estimations, the study also took into account gender and maturation stages of third molar teeth. Various statistical models were compared. The study used orthopantomographs taken from 312 Italian Caucasian patients (135 men and 177 women) between the ages of 14 and 24 years old. All subjects had at least one lower second molar present, with no obvious dental pathology on the panoramic radiology related to these teeth. X-ray images of second molars were processed with a computer-aided drafting program. A total of 20 points from each tooth edge and 10 points for the pulp edge were identified and used to evaluate tooth and pulp areas. These measurements of second molar teeth were used to compute the ratio pulp/tooth area (RA). If both maxillary second molars were present, RA was estimated from an average of the two available ratios. Evaluation was conducted on lower third molars, which are almost always present and the most suitable for evaluation. The data confirmed that if the root apices of the third molar are closed, then there is a high probability that the subject is at least 18 years old. The study found, however, that even after adult age, many third molars have not reached complete maturation. To improve the ability to assess adult age based on molar teeth a logistic model was developed to describe the relationship between the probability that an individual is of age and two predictors, i.e., the dichotomized stage of third molar formation, Tm, and the ratio pup/tooth area. Gender was not a significant explanatory variable. The study thus confirms the validity of dental methods, together with other methods for accessing biological age, in helping court judges to reach proper conclusions about a subject's age. 3 figures, 4 tables, and 15 references