Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

Abstract Introduction: Age estimation is an integral part of forensic science. It is a scientific process that assess the chronological age of a person (deceased or alive) through dental and skeletal indicators. For dental age estimation in children, developing permanent teeth are commonly used. As, third molars are also in initial development in children, it is expected that combined information from both developing seven permanent teeth and third molar will provide better age prediction performances. Aim: To evaluate if third molar development is providing an additional age prediction information in children with permanent teeth (4-16years). Materials and methods: 1818 panoramic radiographs from South African black population was used. Two staging techniques were used. Demirjian’s et al (A-H) [6] staging technique for all developing seven mandibular permanent teeth and modified Kohler et al [14] was used to evaluate all available third molars. A weighted analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bayes’ rule were statistically applied. Comparison was quantified by MAE, RMSE and mean width and coverage of the prediction interval. Inter and intra reliability was checked using Cohen’s Kappa test by restaging 10% of the subjects randomly from the sample. Results: D+K age prediction model showed less RMSE (1.182) in comparison with D (1.95) and K (1.60) model in males and 1.38 (RMSE) in case of females. Significance difference of 0.58 (p<.0001) when compared with MAE D+K with D and 0.36 (p<.0001) when compared with K model separately in males and 0.48 (p<.0001) between MAE D and D+K and 0.35 when compared MAE K with D+K in females was found. D+K model gave maximum coverage in prediction than D and K models separately for males and females. Conclusion: D+K model was providing better age prediction information in children (4-16years) than D and K models separately.

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

Dental age estimation is frequently used during identifications, refugee procedures, insurance fraud and crime investigation [1]. However, dental age estimation by human observers is subject to the observers’ experience and subjectivity, which may result in misleading outcomes [2]. Therefore, neural networks were introduced. It is fast developing and could provide automatic techniques relating to dental age estimation. Multiple researches of dental age estimation have been done with neural networks, but it is still unclear with which information from the panoramic radiograph neural networks use to estimate the age. Henceforth, this research went for investigating what information neural network used in age estimation in panoramic radiographs. The study was focused on developing teeth, individuals were aged from 1 to 24.99 years old. We compared the result between full panoramic radiographs, cropped dataset, long axes dataset, and masked dataset. The reproducibility test of cropped dataset was also done, and the reliability of cropped dataset was shown fair. The results revealed that the method of adding long axes didn’t offer better result than full panoramic radiographs, thus it was not suggested. Results of cropped dataset exceeded masked dataset, since neural network could use other anatomical features except for teeth to predict age. Overall, full panoramic radiographs provided the most accurate results.

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

Tooth development relies completely on the interaction between epithelium and the mesenchyme, thereby transitioning from the initiation stages to bud, cap, bell and advanced bell stages and finally eruption of tooth in the oral cavity. For each tooth class, the above stages take place under the influence of specific genes, which are regulated by the signalling pathways. Genes play important part in the initial phases of tooth development, from birth till the age of 14 years, contributing 80% to their development Dental age can be evaluated for different population groups as genes are main regulators for tooth development, with the environmental factors having a smaller influence, especially in the early stages of life. Thereafter tooth development relies on interaction of genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors. The aim of this study was to understand the influence of genes on tooth development. A systematic review was done according to Cochranes Manual of Systematic Reviews of Intervention with articles being searched online on PubMed/NCBI. Of the 2547 articles identified, 19 were included for data extraction. Data extracted pertained to the gene, the pathways, tooth class, tooth part and mutation effects. With this review an understanding of the extent to which the genes influenced dental development; and other factors, if involved, then how they influenced tooth development. Result: One article each provided information to link a Gene to: Tooth Class + Tooth Part & Tooth Class +Tooth Part + Mutation Effect. A possibility to trace a gene to a specific part of the tooth or to overall tooth development was attempted by depicting the outcomes of the data extraction with the help of a flow diagram.

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

In the last decade need for age, estimation has increased in INDIA because of medicolegal/criminal cases such as rape, child labor. Aim of this study was to estimate the dental age by validating performances of D (lower left quadrant), K(TM) and D+K(combined) in relation to sex-specific age prediction. 1300 panoramic radiographs northwest(NW) Indian subjects were used. Two staging techniques were used. Demirjian’s et al(D)[7] staging technique for all developing seven mandibular permanent teeth and modified Kohler(K) et al was used to evaluate all available third molars(TM). The comparison was quantified by MAE, RMSE and mean width and coverage of the prediction interval. The conclusion was D+K model was providing better age prediction information than D and K models separately.

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

Among dental age estimation methods in children and sub-adults, Cameriere`s method based on the measurements of open apices is regularly applied in medico-legal cases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the observer reproducibility of Cameriere`s tooth development measurements and classifications and their impact on correlated age predictions. Despite reoccurring reports on a high reproducibility of Cameriere`s measurements, in none of the related publications, a specification and detailed explanation of the gradual steps in the measurement proceedings for the different parameter was provided. Following Cameriere`s protocol, the measurements and classifications on a sample of 237 panoramic radiographs were completely or proportionately performed by 6 observers in 2 replications. The multiple regression model provided in the protocol was used for 1291 subsequent age estimates. For the statistical assessment of intra- and inter-observer agreement on the continuous measurements and the succeeding age estimates, the intraclass correlation coefficients, reproducibility coefficients, as well as the within subject coefficients of variation were determined, while the agreement on dichotomous evaluations of apical ends was analyzed with the Kappa coefficient. In contrast to a good to excellent intra-observer agreement, the inter-observer results for the tooth development measurements revealed an only poor to fair reproducibility for specific tooth positions and caused doubts about the reliability of the resulting age estimates. The partially unspecified protocol of Cameriere was found to have a remarkably negative impact on the inter-observer agreement on the allocations of landmarks and the correlated measurement techniques. Combined with tooth position dependent, impeded diagnostics of the apical ends on panoramic radiographs, this led to a reduced reproducibility of the inter-observer results. Thus, the current study results clearly contradict to the frequently reported good to excellent reproducibility of Cameriere`s measurements in previous studies and gives reasons to consider a specification of the delivered protocol. Suggestions for possible enhancements regarding specific steps in Cameriere`s method are indicated in this study, which encourages the increasement of reliability of age estimations in medico-legal cases.