Testing the Demirjian and the International Demirjian Dental Aging Methods on a Mixed Ancestry Urban American Subadult Sample From Detroit, MI

• NCJ Number: 236207
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 56 Issue: 5 Dated: September 2011 Pages: 1296-1301
• Author(s): Nicole M. Burt, M.S.; Norman Sauer, Ph.D.; Todd Fenton, Ph.D.
• Date Published: September 2011
• Length: 6 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Michigan State University Graduate School
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Test/Measurement; Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Presented at the 60th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, February 18-23, 2008, in Washington, DC.

Annotation

This paper tests the Demirjian and international Demirjian dental aging methods for forensic use when ancestry and ethnicity are unknown.

Abstract

A radiographic sample of 187 boys and girls was collected from the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Detroit Mercy and aged using both methods. The total sample and the sample by age categories (young, middle, and old) were analyzed using t-tests. The Demirjian method was found to better estimate age to a statistically significant degree for the total sample, as well as the middle and old age categories. The young category was aged better using the international Demirjian method. The results indicate that while the Demirjian method accurately estimates age, caution must be used with the method. Further research is needed to determine whether the international Demirjian method can be used for forensics in the U.S. (Published Abstract)