Dental age estimation utilizing third molar development: A review of principles, methods, and population studies used in the United States

Abstract For medicolegal purposes, orthodontic or orthognathic treatment various stomatological staging technique for age estimation with appliance of conventional radiographic images have been published. It remains uninvestigated if cone beam computer-tomography delivers comparable staging results to the conventional radiographic stages of third molar analysis.We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study of 312 patients aged 13 to 21 years. Dental age estimation staging technique, introduced by Nolla and Demirjian, were applied on the left lower third molar imaged by conventional panoramic radiographs and cone beam computer-tomography. It was investigated if 2D and 3D imaging presented different staging results for dental age estimation.In 21% the Demirjian’s staging differed by a single stage between 2D and 3D images. The greatest congruence (87%) between 2D and 3D images was revealed for stage 7 (G). In contrary, stage 5 (E) presented the lowest level of congruence with 47.4%. The categorization of Nolla revealed divergences in staging for than 2 categorical variables in Nolla’s stages 3,4,5 and 6. In general, the analysis of the data displayed the divergence for Nolla’s stages 4 to 8. The staging results for 2D and 3D imaging in accordance to the rules of Nolla and Demirjian showed significant differences. Individuals of 18 years may present immature third molars, thus merely an immature third molar cannot reject legal majority.Nolla’s and Demirjian’s 2D and 3D imaging present significantly different staging results.

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Dental Radiographs for Age Estimation in US Asylum Seekers: Methodological, Ethical, and Health Issues

American Journal of Public Health ◽

10.2105/ajph.2020.305918 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 110 (12) ◽

pp. 1786-1789

Author(s):

Farzana Kapadia ◽

Jacqueline Stevens ◽

Diana Silver

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Age Estimation ◽

Asylum Seekers ◽

Third Molar ◽

The United States ◽

Migrant Children ◽

Chronological Age ◽

X Rays ◽

Health Issues ◽

Dental Radiographs

Unaccompanied migrant children seeking asylum status in the United States are often forced to undergo dental radiographs, or x-rays, to verify that they are younger than 18 years. The application of third molar dental radiographs is methodologically flawed and should not be employed as a determinant of chronological age. Furthermore, the use of such tests without obtaining informed consent from either the youth or an objective advocate is unethical. Finally, the legal and health consequences of these inappropriately applied tests are severe and jeopardize the safety and security of these vulnerable minors.

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Dental age estimation: periodontal ligament visibility (PLV)—pattern recognition of a conclusive mandibular maturity marker related to the lower left third molar at the 18-year threshold

International Journal of Legal Medicine ◽

10.1007/s00414-016-1468-3 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 131 (3) ◽

pp. 797-801 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Victoria S. Lucas ◽

Fraser McDonald ◽

Manoharan Andiappan ◽

Graham Roberts

Keyword(s):

Pattern Recognition ◽

Age Estimation ◽

Periodontal Ligament ◽

Third Molar ◽

Dental Age ◽

Dental Age Estimation

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Dental Age Assessment using Demirjian’s Eight Teeth Method and Willems Method in a Tertiary Hospital

Journal of Nepal Medical Association ◽

10.31729/jnma.3876 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 56 (214) ◽

pp. 912-916

Author(s):

Nitin Kumar Agrawal ◽

Lucina Hackman ◽

Samarika Dahal

Keyword(s):

Age Estimation ◽

Tooth Development ◽

Third Molar ◽

Tertiary Hospital ◽

Chronological Age ◽

Criminal Prosecution ◽

Dental Age ◽

Dental Age Estimation ◽

The Mean ◽

Willems Method

Introduction: Age estimation is an important aspect in forensic anthropology, as it can aid in the identification of the deceased, and can be used in cases of immigration, child abuse and criminal prosecution in living individuals. Dental age estimation is considered reliable and accurate, since tooth development is least affected by environmental factors compared to somatic growth.Methods: In total, 150 pre-orthodontic treatment radiographs from healthy individuals were assessed. These individuals were aged between 8 to 19 years. Dental age for these individuals was calculated by two methods: Demirjian’s eight teeth method and Willems method. For Willems method, seven teeth on the left side of mandible (except the third molar) were staged according to Demirjian’s staging, and for Demirjian’s eight teeth method, all eight teeth were staged.Results: The mean chronological ages were 13.6961±1.94384 years in males and 13.9204±2.63541 years in females. The mean estimated ages by Demirjian’s eight teeth method were 12.1856±1.73478 years and 11.7906±2.32344 years in males and females respectively. Similarly, the mean estimated ages by Willems method were 12.8958±1.46838 years in males and 12.6926±2.27807 years in females.Conclusions: Willems method and Demirjian’s eight teeth method underestimated the chronological age in the given population. Both methods showed excellent correlation with chronological age indicating their applicability in dental age estimation, with development of population specific scores.

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