Age estimation using third molar maturation based on Demirjian's criteria. (November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kanchan, Tanuj; Chugh, Vinay; Chugh, Ankita; Meshram, Vikas; Shedge, Rutwik; Patnana, Arun Kumar; Krishan, Kewal
• Is Part Of: Legal medicine. Volume 53(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-11
• Subjects: Forensic odontology -- Human identification -- Dental age estimation -- Third molar -- Demirjian's method; Medical jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Forensic Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine légale -- Périodiques; Medical jurisprudence; Periodicals; 614.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2021.101959
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1344-6223

Abstract

Highlights: Age estimation is a crucial medicolegal aspect in civil and criminal law. Third molar maturation is a reliable method for age estimation. Linear regression models based on third molar maturation can be used to estimate age with greater precision. Third molar maturation grading will allow assessment of whether an individual has reached the medicolegally significant ages of 16 and 18 years. Abstract: Dental age estimation is routinely used in human identification, in both the living and the dead. Teeth follow a predictable pattern of eruption and maturation that can be assessed radiographically in the living, allowing experts to estimate an individual's age. Third molars develop much later than the other permanent teeth, and can be used to estimate age of individuals nearing the age of maturity. Ability of third molar maturation when graded using Demirjian's method in ascertaining whether an individual has attained the medicolegal ages of 16 and 18 years has not yet been verified. The present study involved assessing the third molar maturation of 220 individuals of a training set using Demirjian's scoring system, generating regression models to estimate age using the third molar maturity scores, applying these models on a test set of 40 individuals, and calculating the mean difference (MD) and the mean absolute error (MAE) between the chronological and estimated ages of the test set participants. It was observed that the lowest mean difference and mean absolute error was observed for the maturation of the left mandibular third molar (MD = 1.05 years, MAE = 2.09 years). Boxplots generated in the study report that the third molar maturation stages given by Demirjian can identify whether an individual has attained the medicolegally significant ages of 16 and 18 years of age.