Mineralization of mandibular third molars can estimate chronological age—Brazilian indices

• Published in: Forensic science international 2012-06, Vol.219 (1), p.147-150
• Main Authors: de Oliveira, Fernando Toledo, Capelozza, Ana Lúcia Álvares, Lauris, José Roberto Pereira, de Bullen, Izabel Regina Fischer Rubira
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age; Age determination by teeth; Age Determination by Teeth - methods; Biological and medical sciences; Brazil; Child; Correlation analysis; Female; Forensic anthropology; Forensic Dentistry; Forensic medicine; Forensic odontology; Forensic sciences; General aspects; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Mandible; Medical sciences; Models, Biological; Molar, Third - diagnostic imaging; Molar, Third - growth & development; Panoramic radiograph; Pathology; Probability; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Radiography, Panoramic; Teeth; Third molar; Tooth Calcification; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0379-0738; 1872-6283
• DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2011.12.013

Abstract Forensic age estimation is an important element of anthropological research, as it produces one of the primary sources of data that researchers use to establish the identity of a person living or the identity of unknown bodily remains. The aim of this study was to determine if the chronology of third molar mineralization could be an accurate indicator of estimated age in a sample Brazilian population. If so, mineralization could determine the probability of an individual being 18 years or older. The study evaluated 407 panoramic radiographs of males and females from the past 5 years in order to assess the mineralization status of the mandibular third molars. The evaluation was carried out using an adaptation of Demirjian's system. The results indicated a strong correlation between chronological age and the mineralization of the mandibular third molars. The results indicated that modern Brazilian generation tends to demonstrate an earlier mandibular third molar mineralization than older Brazilian generation and people of other nationalities. Males reached developmental stages slightly earlier than females, but statistically significant differences between the sex were not found. The probability that an individual with third molar mineralization stage H had reached an age of 18 years or older was 96.8–98.6% for males and females, respectively.