A comparison of techniques in age estimation using the third molar

Molar development is widely accepted as a reliable indicator of chronological age in a forensic context. A quantitative method for age estimation has been proposed by Cameriere et al. based on the relationship between chronological age and the third molar maturity index (I3M), which is the ratio between the two apical pulp widths and the total tooth length. Cameriere’s cut off value of 0.08 was found to be a reliable tool in assessing the threshold of 18 years of age. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the I3M in different ethnic populations focusing on its specificity (subjects correctly classified as <18 years based on I3M >0.08) and sensitivity (subjects correctly classified as ≥18 years based on I3M <0.08). A review of 22 scientific articles was performed, representing data from panoramic radiographs of 12,286 individuals (5723 males and 6563 females) from all over the world, including some ethnical subgroups. The I3M showed an overall sensitivity for both sexes ranging from 51.8% to 93.4% and a specificity ranging from 86.2% to 100%. The proportion of correctly classified individuals ranged from 74% to 95%. These results can be useful to refer the age estimation with the margin of error of subjects correctly classified as minors (specificity) or adults (sensitivity), according to sex, ethnicity and geographical distribution. The I3M can be considered a suitable method for estimating adulthood in forensic settings, regardless of sex. However, ethnic group can affect the accuracy.

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Age estimation from developing third molars

Medico-Legal Journal ◽

10.1177/00258172211052930 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 002581722110529

Author(s):

Yvonne Padmini Wilson ◽

Phrabhakaran Nambiar ◽

Hashim Yaacob ◽

Muhammad Khan Asif

Keyword(s):

Root Development ◽

Age Estimation ◽

Third Molar ◽

Growth Patterns ◽

Third Molars ◽

Panoramic Radiographs ◽

The Third ◽

The Subject ◽

Congenitally Missing ◽

Demirjian’S Method

We investigated the development of third molars among Malaysians (including variations between jaws and genders) using Demirjian’s method. Dental panoramic radiographs of 1224 subjects aged 8 to 24 years were examined, and the molars were assigned Demirjian et al.’s development grades (A–H). Results indicated that 18.8% had congenitally missing or extracted third molars. Development of molars begins earlier in females (also in the mandible), but by age 9, male children's molar development speeds up with more advanced grades in their middle teens than females. Grade C indicates the subject is a juvenile, while initiation of root development (Grade E), was observed from 13 years on. Grade H can occur in a child aged 18 years who technically is still a juvenile. We compared the development and growth patterns of the third molar from both the maxilla and the mandible.

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Bayesian networks of age estimation and classification based on dental evidence: A study on the third molar mineralization

Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.jflm.2018.02.005 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 55 ◽

pp. 23-32 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Emanuele Sironi ◽

Vilma Pinchi ◽

Francesco Pradella ◽

Martina Focardi ◽

Silvia Bozza ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bayesian Networks ◽

Age Estimation ◽

Third Molar ◽

The Third ◽

Third Molar Mineralization ◽

Dental Evidence

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Age estimation based on the third molar development in a Turkish population: A radiographic study

Annals of Medical Research ◽

10.5455/annalsmedres.2019.02.099 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

Guldane Magat ◽

Sevgi Ozcan

Keyword(s):

Age Estimation ◽

Third Molar ◽

Turkish Population ◽

Radiographic Study ◽

The Third

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Dental Inclusion of Canine and Wisdom Tooth in Orthodontics Chemical Necroses

Revista de Chimie ◽

10.37358/rc.18.8.6497 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 69 (8) ◽

pp. 2191-2196

Author(s):

Cristian Constantin Budacu ◽

Nicoleta Ioanid ◽

Cristian Romanec ◽

Mihail Balan ◽

Liliana Lacramioara Pavel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Third Molar ◽

Point Of View ◽

Separate Entity ◽

Wisdom Tooth ◽

Facial Aesthetics ◽

The Third ◽

Edentulous Mandible ◽

Canine Guidance ◽

Upper Jaw ◽

Functional Point

Canine plays an important role in the dento-maxillary system. From a functional point of view, it provides the canine guidance, by positioning it in the frontal area, has a role in facial aesthetics. It plays an important prosthetic role by having the longest root and one of the longest arcade teeth. Three molars represent the last teeth that erupt in the arches both in the jaw and in the mandible, which is why they remain the most frequently included.Canine incidence is quite common following the wisdom tooth. It can be unilateral or bilateral and is more common in the upper jaw. The canine may remain included at the vestibular, palatal or between the two bones. A separate entity is the incision of the canine in the edentulous mandible or jaw. The study included 213 cases with dento-alveolar pathology, of which 128 patients were selected with dental inclusion. Our study reports that the first three molars are frequent, followed by the canine as opposed to other studies conducted by Guzduz K in 2011 and Fardi A of the same year bringing the canines first (Fardi, Guzduz). Some studies attribute the first place to the superior canine in terms of frequency, but they are abstracted from the molar three inclusion that they consider as most frequently (Compoy). The most common tooth in inclusion is the third molar (lower and upper) followed by the upper canine; the most commonly affected are women for both canine and molar.

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Juvenile versus adult: A new approach for age estimation from 3-dimensional analyses of the mandibular third molar apices

Journal of Forensic Radiology and Imaging ◽

10.1016/j.jofri.2019.100347 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 ◽

pp. 100347 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Muhammad Khan Asif ◽

Norliza Ibrahim ◽

Samah M. Al-Amery ◽

Jacob John ◽

Phrabhakaran Nambiar

Keyword(s):

Age Estimation ◽

Third Molar ◽

New Approach ◽

3 Dimensional ◽

Mandibular Third Molar

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Assessment of the Retromolar Canal in Taiwan Subpopulation: A Cross-Sectional Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Study in a Medical Center

Tomography ◽

10.3390/tomography7020020 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 219-227

Author(s):

Yen-Wen Shen ◽

Wan-Chun Chang ◽

Heng-Li Huang ◽

Ming-Tzu Tsai ◽

Lih-Jyh Fuh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medical Center ◽

Third Molar ◽

Mandibular Canal ◽

Cone Beam ◽

Horizontal Distance ◽

Taiwanese Population ◽

Mandibular Bone ◽

Second Molar ◽

The Third ◽

Retromolar Canal

The retromolar canal is an anatomical variation that occurs in the mandibular bone. The retromolar canal typically originates in the mandibular canal on the distal side of the third molar and extends forward and upward to the retromolar foramen (RMF), which contains the neurovascular bundle. Accidentally damaging the neurovascular bundle in the retromolar canal during the extraction of the third molar, dental implant surgery, or maxillofacial orthognathic surgery may lead to subsequent complications such as incomplete local anesthesia, paresthesia, and bleeding during operation. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of the RMF in the Taiwanese population in a medical center by using dental cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to identify the position of the RMF in the mandibular bone. The dental CBCT images for the mandibular bone of 68 hemi-mandible were uploaded to the medical imaging software Mimics 15.1 to determine the prevalence of the RMF in the Taiwanese population and the three positional parameters of the RMF in the mandibular bone: (1) The diameter of the RMF, (2) the horizontal distance from the midpoint of the RMF to the distal cementoenamel junction of the second molar, and (3) the vertical distance from the midpoint of the RMF to the upper border of the mandibular canal. Seven RMFs were observed in the 68 hemi-mandibles. Thus, the RMF prevalence was 10.3%. In addition, the diameter of the RMF was 1.41 ± 0.30 mm (mean ± standard deviation), the horizontal distance from the midpoint of the RMF to the distal cementoenamel junction of the the second molar was 12.93 ± 2.87 mm, and the vertical distance from the midpoint of the RMF to the upper border of the mandibular canal below second molar was 13.62 ± 1.3487 mm. This study determined the prevalence of the RMF in the Taiwanese population in a medical center and its relative position in the mandibular bone. This information can provide clinicians with a reference for posterior mandible anesthesia and surgery to ensure medical safety.

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