Age Estimation of Korean Adults by Occlusal Tooth Wear

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the validity of the modified Kim's scoring system as a practical method of recording occlusal tooth wear and estimating age. For this purpose, 1092 pairs of maxillary and mandibular full-arch casts were randomly selected, scored, and analyzed. The results showed that the modified Kim's scoring system had excellent reliability, and that occlusal tooth wear had a positive correlation with age. Tooth wear scores of all teeth except the two lower central incisors were higher in males than in females. Calculating tables for age estimation were designed by multiple linear regression analysis. Estimated ages were within +/-5 years of actual ages in 63.5% of male subjects, and 64.0% of female subjects. The accuracy of age estimation was increased when the subjects were divided into two age groups and data were re-analyzed. Collectively, it was shown that the modified Kim's scoring system is a reliable and accurate method for age estimation, and that the data from these 1092 individuals can be used as a standard for age estimation of Korean adults.

Development of third molars in Korean juveniles and adolescents

“…[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. Methods of age estimation using tooth wear and the development of permanent teeth were reported in 2000, 2007 and 2008 by our lab, and have been proved to be valuable and useful in the field [24][25][26].…”

Age estimation of an Indian population by using the Kim′s scoring system of occlusal tooth wear

“…[3561011121314151617] The process of occlusal tooth wear may be dependent on various factors such as eating and chewing habits, hardness of the teeth, the type of food and the degree of pressure transmitted by the jaws to the teeth during mastication, presence or absence of teeth in the opposing arch, existence of artificial teeth, gender, geographic location, environmental conditions, parafunctions like bruxism and malocclusion. Hence, it has been suggested by various studies that age estimation based on occlusal tooth wear alone may not be accurate.…”

“…Hence, it has been suggested by various studies that age estimation based on occlusal tooth wear alone may not be accurate. [5789] However, in cases where age estimation has to be carried out inevitably with limited information, especially in living persons over the age of 20-30 years, occlusal tooth wear scoring may be used as an effected tool. This has been demonstrated to be accurate and reliable by the use of Kim's scoring system.…”

“…[5] Tooth wear may thus be used as a reliable marker for estimating the age of such individuals. Tooth wear may be dependent on various factors such as eating and chewing habits, hardness of the teeth, the type of food and method of mastication, existence of artificial teeth, gender, geographic location, environmental conditions and parafunctions.…”

“…Tooth wear may be dependent on various factors such as eating and chewing habits, hardness of the teeth, the type of food and method of mastication, existence of artificial teeth, gender, geographic location, environmental conditions and parafunctions. [56789] Despite this, estimation of an individual's age from tooth wear is a very simple and a convenient method. This method does not need any invasive process such as tooth extraction or tissue preparation.…”