Dental age assessment: scoring systems and models from the past until the present—how is it presented in the court?

Pereira, Cristiana Palmela; Santos, Rui; Nushi, Valon; Lameiro, Maria Vitória; Antunes, Patrícia; Carvalho, Raquel; Major, Tatiana; AlQahtani, Sakher J.

doi:10.1007/s00414-023-03011-3

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 23 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Forensic age assessment has emerged as a focal point in forensic science research [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. Within the field of forensic age assessment, dental methods have maintained their significance and continue to be integral components of relevant professional recommendations [13][14][15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Third Molar Eruption in Dental Panoramic Radiographs as a Feature for Forensic Age Assessment—Presentation of a New Non-Staging Method Based on Measurements

Timme,

Bender,

Steffens

et al. 2023

Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The evaluation of third molar eruption in dental panoramic radiographs (DPRs) constitutes an evidence-based approach for forensic age assessment in living individuals. Existing methodologies involve staging morphological radiographic findings and comparing them to reference populations. Conversely, the existing literature presents an alternative method where the distance between third molars and the occlusal plane is measured on dental plaster models. The aim of this study was to adapt this measurement principle for DPRs and to determine correlation between eruption and chronological age. A total of 423 DPRs, encompassing 220 females and 203 males aged 15 to 25 years, were examined, including teeth 38 [FDI] and 48. Two independent examiners conducted the measurements, with one examiner providing dual assessments. Ultimately, a quotient was derived by comparing orthogonal distances from the mesial cementoenamel junctions of the second and third molars to a simplified radiological occlusal plane. This quotient was subsequently correlated with the individual’s age. We estimated correlations between age and quotients, as well as inter- and intra-rater reliability. Correlation coefficients (Spearman’s rho) between measurements and individuals’ ages ranged from 0.555 to 0.597, conditional on sex and tooth. Intra-rater agreement (Krippendorf’s alpha) ranged from 0.932 to 0.991, varying according to the tooth and sex. Inter-rater agreement ranged from 0.984 to 0.992, with distinctions drawn for different teeth and sex. Notably, all observer agreement values fell within the “very good” range. In summary, assessing the distance of third molars from a simplified occlusal plane in DPRs emerges as a new and promising method for evaluating eruption status in forensic age assessment. Subsequent reference studies should validate these findings.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Third Molar Eruption in Dental Panoramic Radiographs as a Feature for Forensic Age Assessment—Presentation of a New Non-Staging Method Based on Measurements

Timme,

Bender,

Steffens

et al. 2023

Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Dental age assessment and dental scoring systems: combined different statistical methods

Pereira,

Rodrigues,

Augusto

et al. 2024

Int J Legal Med

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Third molar eruption in dental panoramic radiographs as a feature for forensic age assessment – new reference data from a German population

Timme,

Viktorov,

Steffens

et al. 2024

Head Face Med

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Forensic age assessment in the living can provide legal certainty when an individual’s chronological age is unknown or when age-related information is questionable. An established method involves assessing the eruption of mandibular third molars through dental panoramic radiographs (PAN). In age assessment procedures, the respective findings are compared to reference data. The objective of this study was to generate new reference data in line with the required standards for mandibular third molar eruption within a German population. For this purpose, 605 PANs from 302 females and 303 males aged 15.04 to 25.99 years were examined. The PANs were acquired between 2013 and 2020, and the development of the mandibular third molars was rated independently by two experienced examiners using the Olze et al. staging scale from 2012. In case of disagreement in the assigned ratings, a consensus was reached through arbitration. While the mean, median and minimum ages were observed to increase with each stage of mandibular third molar eruption according to the Olze method, there was considerable overlap in the distribution of age between the stages. The minimum age for stage D, which corresponds to complete tooth eruption, was 16.1 years for females and 17.1 years for males. Thus, the completion of mandibular third molar eruption was found in both sexes before reaching the age of 18. In all individuals who had at least one tooth with completed eruption and who were younger than 17.4 years of age (n = 10), mineralization of the teeth in question was not complete. Based on our findings, the feature of assessing mandibular third molar eruption in PAN cannot be relied upon for determining age of majority.

show abstract

Dental age assessment: scoring systems and models from the past until the present—how is it presented in the court?

Cited by 3 publications

References 23 publications

Third Molar Eruption in Dental Panoramic Radiographs as a Feature for Forensic Age Assessment—Presentation of a New Non-Staging Method Based on Measurements

Third Molar Eruption in Dental Panoramic Radiographs as a Feature for Forensic Age Assessment—Presentation of a New Non-Staging Method Based on Measurements

Dental age assessment and dental scoring systems: combined different statistical methods

Third molar eruption in dental panoramic radiographs as a feature for forensic age assessment – new reference data from a German population

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About