Top

Published in:

01-09-2011 | Original Article

Validation of reference data on wisdom tooth mineralization and eruption for forensic age estimation in living persons

Authors: Eva Scheurer, Franz Quehenberger, Michael T. Mund, Heiko Merkens, Kathrin Yen

Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine | Issue 5/2011

Abstract

Estimation of dental age is an important part of forensic age estimation in living persons. As the quality of the values given in population-specific reference studies has a great impact on the estimation, the aim of this study was to validate reference data for wisdom teeth mineralization and eruption of a German population concerning the diagnosis of the age limit of 18 years in persons with known age. Mineralization and eruption was evaluated in 307 orthopantomograms of Central European subjects aged 17.5–18.5 years. Dental age was estimated using reference data and compared to chronological age. Statistical methods were used to analyze the differences and to propose adjusted reference values. Estimation of dental age relying on mineralization resulted in overestimations of 2 years on average in 76% of the males and 82% of the females. Using eruption, all men and 75% of the women were overestimated by up to 7 years. The differences between estimated and chronological age in both men and women were associated with the mineralization and eruption stage, respectively. The higher the stage, the higher was the risk of overestimation. The mineralization stages up to stage E were associated with underestimations. Using the proposed adjusted reference values resulted in more accurate estimations of dental age. Validation of reference values for dental age estimation showed great overestimations resulting in high error rates with numerous persons being younger than the estimated dental age. Adjustments are proposed which reduce differences between estimated dental age and chronological age.

Demirjian A, Goldstein H, Tanner JM (1973) A new system of dental age assessment. Hum Biol 45(2):211–227PubMed

Willems G (2001) A review of the most commonly used dental age estimation techniques. J Forensic Odontostomatol 19(1):9–17PubMed

Olze A, Bilang D, Schmidt S, Wernecke KD, Geserick G, Schmeling A (2005) Validation of common classification systems for assessing the mineralization of third molars. Int J Legal Med 119(1):22–26. doi:10.1007/s00414-004-0489-5 PubMedCrossRef

Mincer HH, Harris EF, Berryman HE (1993) The A.B.F.O. study of third molar development and its use as an estimator of chronological age. J Forensic Sci 38(2):379–390PubMed

Olze A, Peschke C, Schulz R, Schmeling A (2008) Studies of the chronological course of wisdom tooth eruption in a German population. J Forensic Leg Med 15(7):426–429. doi:10.1016/j.jflm.2008.02.008 PubMedCrossRef

Olze A, Ishikawa T, Zhu BL, Schulz R, Heinecke A, Maeda H, Schmeling A (2008) Studies of the chronological course of wisdom tooth eruption in a Japanese population. Forensic Sci Int 174(2–3):203–206. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2007.04.218 PubMedCrossRef

Olze A, Taniguchi M, Schmeling A, Zhu BL, Yamada Y, Maeda H, Geserick G (2003) Comparative study on the chronology of third molar mineralization in a Japanese and a German population. Leg Med (Tokyo) 5(Suppl 1):S256–S260

Olze A, van Niekerk P, Schmidt S, Wernecke KD, Rosing FW, Geserick G, Schmeling A (2006) Studies on the progress of third-molar mineralisation in a Black African population. Homo 57(3):209–217. doi:10.1016/j.jchb.2004.08.003 PubMedCrossRef

Olze A, van Niekerk P, Schulz R, Schmeling A (2007) Studies of the chronological course of wisdom tooth eruption in a Black African population. J Forensic Sci 52(5):1161–1163. doi:10.1111/j.1556-4029.2007.00534.x PubMedCrossRef

10.

Orhan K, Ozer L, Orhan AI, Dogan S, Paksoy CS (2007) Radiographic evaluation of third molar development in relation to chronological age among Turkish children and youth. Forensic Sci Int 165(1):46–51. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2006.02.046 PubMedCrossRef

11.

Prieto JL, Barberia E, Ortega R, Magana C (2005) Evaluation of chronological age based on third molar development in the Spanish population. Int J Legal Med 119(6):349–354. doi:10.1007/s00414-005-0530-3 PubMedCrossRef

12.

Martin-de las Heras S, Garcia-Fortea P, Ortega A, Zodocovich S, Valenzuela A (2008) Third molar development according to chronological age in populations from Spanish and Magrebian origin. Forensic Sci Int 174(1):47–53. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2007.03.009 PubMedCrossRef

13.

Arany S, Iino M, Yoshioka N (2004) Radiographic survey of third molar development in relation to chronological age among Japanese juveniles. J Forensic Sci 49(3):534–538PubMedCrossRef

14.

Sisman Y, Uysal T, Yagmur F, Ramoglu SI (2007) Third-molar development in relation to chronologic age in Turkish children and young adults. Angle Orthod 77(6):1040–1045. doi:10.2319/101906-430.1 PubMedCrossRef

15.

Olze A, Schmeling A, Rieger K, Kalb G, Geserick G (2003) Untersuchungen zum zeitlichen Verlauf der Weisheitszahnmineralisation bei einer deutschen Population. Rechtsmed 13(1):5–10

16.

Peschke CE (2007) Untersuchungen zum zeitlichen Verlauf der Weisheitszahneruption bei einer europiden Population. doctoral thesis, Medizinischen Fakultät der Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin

17.

Gelbrich B, Lessig R, Lehmann M, Dannhauer K, Gelbrich G (2010) Altersselektion in Referenzstichproben. Rechtsmed 20(6):1–5CrossRef

18.

Gunst K, Mesotten K, Carbonez A, Willems G (2003) Third molar root development in relation to chronological age: a large sample sized retrospective study. Forensic Sci Int 136(1–3):52–57PubMedCrossRef

19.

Meinl A, Tangl S, Huber C, Maurer B, Watzek G (2007) The chronology of third molar mineralization in the Austrian population—a contribution to forensic age estimation. Forensic Sci Int 169(2–3):161–167. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2006.08.014 PubMedCrossRef

20.

Knell B, Ruhstaller P, Prieels F, Schmeling A (2009) Dental age diagnostics by means of radiographical evaluation of the growth stages of lower wisdom teeth. Int J Legal Med 123(6):465–469. doi:10.1007/s00414-009-0330-2 PubMedCrossRef

Title: Validation of reference data on wisdom tooth mineralization and eruption for forensic age estimation in living persons
Authors: Eva Scheurer
Franz Quehenberger
Michael T. Mund
Heiko Merkens
Kathrin Yen
Publication date: 01-09-2011
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine / Issue 5/2011
Print ISSN: 0937-9827
Electronic ISSN: 1437-1596
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-011-0587-0

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Validation of reference data on wisdom tooth mineralization and eruption for forensic age estimation in living persons

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 5/2011

Transfer of biological stains from different surfaces

Striated abrasions from a knife with non-serrated blade—identification of the instrument of crime on the basis of an experiment with material evidence

Allele and haplotype diversity of X-chromosomal STRs in Ivory Coast

The effect of firearm muzzle gases on the backspatter of blood

Performance evaluation of the DrugWipe® 5/5+ on-site oral fluid screening device

Sex estimation of the Cretan humerus: a digital radiometric study