Age estimation with the aid of tooth development: a new method based on objective measurements

Abstract

The common methods of age determination with the aid of teeth have been criticized because they rely on subjective estimations of tooth development, as seen in radiographs, and subsequent comparisons with pictures and descriptions in compiled dental charts. The distribution around an estimated age with these methods is usually more than ±2 yr between the 10th and 90th percentiles. In an attempt to avoid subjective estimations, objective measurements of developing teeth were correlated with subjects' chronologic ages. The structures measured were crown height, apex width, and root length. With the aid of a multiple regression model, a linear relationship between some of these distances and age was shown. The distances which were best correlated with age differed according to sex and age. This method has a 95% C.I. of about ±2 yr around an estimated age. It therefore seems to be more accurate than the earlier methods. Thus, the individual variation in tooth development is of the same order of magnitude, and a better estimation can therefore not be done in children 6–14 yr of age.

Assessment of the Pubertal Growth Period using the Open Apices of the Lower Teeth

“…Moreover, if the tooth is tipped into the buccolingual direction, the early-stage evaluation of dental development will be underestimated. 13 In several studies conducted by Cameriere et al, 14 a new approach to assess the dental development has been created, which is based on measuring the degree of apical completeness of roots through liner millimetric measurements of the open apices of the lower teeth. Instead of classifying them into stages, a regression formulae deriving age have been developed.…”

Direct and Indirect Forensic Age Estimation Methods for Deciduous Teeth

“…The age formulas derived from direct or indirect measurements of fetus or infant primary upper central tooth, until its developmental completion may be accepted as an important source for forensic dental identification. Further reading is suggested on the subject of age estimation from primary dentition [7][8][9][10].…”

Possibilities of Dental Age Assessment in Permanent Teeth: A Review

“…The different methods applied for dental age assessment include the evaluation of tooth morphology [6][7][8], morphology of the primary and permanent dentition [9], the degree of skeletal ossification [10] and the analysis of biochemical modifications within the dental hard tissues [11]. Of course, these different techniques differ with respect to their possible field of application and their accuracy.…”