Evaluation of the maximum length of deciduous teeth for estimation of the age of infants and young children: proposal of new regression formulas

Abstract

The methodology used to identify individuals in forensic anthropology requires a minimum degree of precision and accuracy and should be based on identified and representative samples. Achievement of these objectives in infant skeletons is hampered by the scarcity of appropriate samples. The dental age estimation methods of Liversidge et al. (Am J Phys Anthropol 90: 307-313, 1993) and Deutsch et al. (Growth 49: 207-17, 1985) were applied to the Granada osteological collection of identified infants (Granada, Spain) in order to evaluate its applicability in a Mediterranean population. Significant differences were found between the estimated and real ages in both cases. Based on the measurements obtained in 140 fetuses and infants, new regression formulas were developed to estimate age from the metric study on deciduous teeth. Independent functions are provided for each deciduous maxillary and mandibular tooth in each sex, along with the margin of error (95% confidence interval). These formulas appear to offer one of the best methods available for estimating the age of Mediterranean infants in forensic anthropology settings.

Virtual histological assessment of the prenatal life history and age at death of the Upper Paleolithic fetus from Ostuni (Italy)

“…This discrepancy suggests that there is a substantive difference between these two estimators. This conclusion is further supported by the fact that the age at death estimates derived from Os1b’s crown heights 41 , 42 (34–38 gestational weeks; Supplementary Table S1 ), based on modern references, are comparable to the age at death estimates derived from modern skeletal standards.…”

Sex estimation in a contemporary Spanish population: cranial and dental anthropometry

“…From a medico-legal point of view, the absence of key skeletal elements for the reconstruction of the biological profile of the recovered skeletonised individual can hinder and even prevent identification(Kanchan & Krishan 2011). For this reason, several methods based on different anatomical areas have been developed over the last few decades to facilitate the deduction of biological profiles in cases where few dental and skeletal elements are recovered, and/or where these are not well preserved and/or are fragmented (e.g.,Adams & Pilloud 2019;D'Anastasio et al 2014;González-Reimers et al 2000;Irurita et al 2014a;Irurita et al 2014b;Klales & Burns 2017;Kubicka & Piontek 2016; Lee 2009;López-Lázaro et al 2018; Navega et al 2012;Patterson & Tallman 2019;Spradley & Jantz 2011;Tallman & Blanton 2020; …”

A Reappraisal of Developing Permanent Tooth Length as an Estimate of Age in Human Immature Skeletal Remains

“…In addition, Liversidge et al as well as the studies mentioned above modeled the relationship between age and tooth development employing regression analysis and an inverse calibration, which incorrectly implies that age is dependent on tooth length, and yields a bias in age estimation . Irurita Olivares et al further explored this approach for the deciduous dentition with an increased sample size, although the statistical issues were not addressed. Recently, other quantitative age estimation methods from the deciduous dentition have been proposed , although each presents problems similar to those outlined above for the permanent dentition.…”