Comparative study on the effect of ethnicity on wisdom tooth eruption

Abstract

The current knowledge base for evaluating the influence of ethnic origin on wisdom tooth eruption is still inadequate. We therefore analyzed and compared the chronology of wisdom tooth eruption in three ethnic populations-German, Japanese, and black South Africanbased on evidence from 2,482 conventional orthopantomograms. The investigated German population ranked in the middle in terms of the age of wisdom tooth eruption. The black South African population was the fastest and the Japanese population the slowest in terms of reaching the respective eruption stages. Population-specific reference data should be used when evaluating wisdom tooth eruption for the purpose of forensic age estimation.

Age estimation based on the stage of mineralization of third molars on orthopantomograms

“…Regarding the difference between sexes, studies have pointed to a premature mineralization in females, indicating precocity in dental development (MOORREES;FANNING;HUNT, 1963;OLZE et al, 2007). However, a study performed with 2,218 subjects in Japan, South Africa and Germany showed an advanced stage of mineralization in males of approximately 1½ year compared with females .…”

Forensic Age Estimation in Unaccompanied Minors and Young Living Adults

“…H o w e v e r , a l t h o u g h t h i s m e t h o d i s f a s t , c h e a p a n d n o t v e r y i n f l u e n c e d b y i n t r a -a n d interobserver error, eruption is not a good age indicator when used alone, due to factors like interindividual or populational variation (Garn et al, 1959;Moorees et al, 1963), systemic or local diseases (Ungar, 1937) or the elapsed time without changes (Teivens & Mörnstad, 2001). Numerous authors have investigated the chronology and sequence of eruption in different populations (Foti et al, 2003;Fulton & Price, 1954;Giles et al, 1963;Logan & Kronfield, 1933;Olze et al, 2007;Planells et al, 1993;Saunders et al 1993;Tanguay et al 1984; Van der Linden, 1980). Some of this research examines the correlation between dental eruption and other development parameters; for example Lewis and Garn (Garn & Lewis, 1959) which evaluates parameters such as somatic and sexual growth, personality and state of health, or Green (Green, 1961) which attempts to establish correlations between dental, skeletal and chronological age and weight and height, finding a stronger correlation between dental and chronological age even than that existing between dental and bone development.…”

“…The applicability of standards generated to members of ethnic groups that are different from the reference population has been the subject of controversial discussion. Up to now several studies have been undertaken in different populations, with the aim of observing the usefulness of the third molar as a reliable indicator of age (Arany et al, 2004;Blankenship et al, 2007;Bolaños et al, 2003;Gunst et al, 2003;Gunst et al, 2003;Harris, 2007;Harris & Nortjé, 1984;Kullman, 1992;Martín, 2007;Meinl et al, 2007;Micci & Buzzanca, 1998;Mincer et al, 1993;Nambiar, 1996;Olze et al, 2004Olze et al, , 2007Prieto et al 2007;Robetti et al, 1982;Solari & Abramovitch, 2002;illerhausen et al, 2001;Yaacob et al, 1996). These studies have proved that dental development shows slight variations among different populations, making specific studies necessary.…”

“…The forensic applicability of these studies is limited, since age data for subjects of African origin are often not verified. Olze et al (Olze et al, 2007) analyzed and compared the chronological course of third molar eruption in German, Japanese, and South African populations with proven age of subjects. They found that their German sample had an intermediate rate of dental development as determined by comparing the different ages of third molar eruption.…”

Forensic age estimation in living individuals: methodological considerations in the context of medico-legal practice

“…Accordingly, it is imperative to apply population-specific data for dental age estimation. [83][84][85][86] Olze et al 87 analyzed the radiographic visibility of the periodontal ligament in the mandibular third molars for the purpose of age estimation. The visibility of the ligament was categorized into four stages (0-3): Stage 1 indicated that an individual has already attained the legally relevant age of 18 years, whereas Stages 2 and 3 showed beyond reasonable doubt that an individual was .21 years of age.…”