Evaluation of post-mortem estimated dental age versus real age: a retrospective 21-year survey

Kirsa Reppien; Birgitte Sejrsen; Niels Lynnerup

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2006.02.021

Evaluation of post-mortem estimated dental age versus real age: a retrospective 21-year survey

Kirsa Reppien, Birgitte Sejrsen, Niels Lynnerup

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › peer review

35 Citationer (Scopus)

Abstract

Udgivelsesdato: 2006-May-15

Originalsprog	Engelsk
Tidsskrift	Forensic Science International
Vol/bind	159 Suppl 1
Sider (fra-til)	84-8
Antal sider	5
ISSN	0379-0738
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2006.02.021
Status	Udgivet - 15 apr. 2006

Bibliografisk note

Keywords: Adolescent; Adult; Age Determination by Teeth; Aged; Child; Female; Forensic Dentistry; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Odontometry; Reproducibility of Results; Retrospective Studies

Adgang til dokumentet

10.1016/j.forsciint.2006.02.021

Citationsformater

@article{9f5de5e09e4411df928f000ea68e967b,

title = "Evaluation of post-mortem estimated dental age versus real age: a retrospective 21-year survey",

abstract = "The aim of the study was to evaluate the reliability of methods used for forensic dental age estimation. We analysed all cases over the last 21 years (1984-2004) of unidentified bodies that were examined for identification purposes (including age assessment), and of which secure identification was subsequently achieved. In total, the study included 51 cases and 7 different methods had been used for dental age estimation, with the Bang/Ramm and the Gustafson/Johanson methods being the most frequently applied. The age estimates had usually been recorded as 10-year intervals. Factual ages at death were in the range of 6-76 years, with the largest concentration of cases being in the age interval of 25-55 years (34 cases). There was good agreement between estimated age interval and factual age at death in 37/51 (72%) of the cases. In eight cases the factual age at death deviated up to +/-5 years from the estimated age, and in six cases by more than 6 years. The average difference between factual age at death and estimated age was 4.5 years. The four subadults in the material were all correctly estimated within an age range of +/-3 years. Our study showed that forensic odontological age estimates are reliable. However, the implementation of the specific methods may need to be adjusted concerning age ranges. In the future we recommend to register anamnestic information and the different steps in the methods used. Clinical evaluation should contain more details about attrition, colour, number and presumed age of the restorations and periodontal status.",

author = "Kirsa Reppien and Birgitte Sejrsen and Niels Lynnerup",

note = "Keywords: Adolescent; Adult; Age Determination by Teeth; Aged; Child; Female; Forensic Dentistry; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Odontometry; Reproducibility of Results; Retrospective Studies",

year = "2006",

month = apr,

day = "15",

doi = "10.1016/j.forsciint.2006.02.021",

language = "English",

volume = "159 Suppl 1",

pages = "84--8",

journal = "Forensic Science International",

issn = "0379-0738",

publisher = "Elsevier Ireland Ltd",

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T1 - Evaluation of post-mortem estimated dental age versus real age: a retrospective 21-year survey

AU - Reppien, Kirsa

AU - Sejrsen, Birgitte

AU - Lynnerup, Niels

N1 - Keywords: Adolescent; Adult; Age Determination by Teeth; Aged; Child; Female; Forensic Dentistry; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Odontometry; Reproducibility of Results; Retrospective Studies

PY - 2006/4/15

Y1 - 2006/4/15

N2 - The aim of the study was to evaluate the reliability of methods used for forensic dental age estimation. We analysed all cases over the last 21 years (1984-2004) of unidentified bodies that were examined for identification purposes (including age assessment), and of which secure identification was subsequently achieved. In total, the study included 51 cases and 7 different methods had been used for dental age estimation, with the Bang/Ramm and the Gustafson/Johanson methods being the most frequently applied. The age estimates had usually been recorded as 10-year intervals. Factual ages at death were in the range of 6-76 years, with the largest concentration of cases being in the age interval of 25-55 years (34 cases). There was good agreement between estimated age interval and factual age at death in 37/51 (72%) of the cases. In eight cases the factual age at death deviated up to +/-5 years from the estimated age, and in six cases by more than 6 years. The average difference between factual age at death and estimated age was 4.5 years. The four subadults in the material were all correctly estimated within an age range of +/-3 years. Our study showed that forensic odontological age estimates are reliable. However, the implementation of the specific methods may need to be adjusted concerning age ranges. In the future we recommend to register anamnestic information and the different steps in the methods used. Clinical evaluation should contain more details about attrition, colour, number and presumed age of the restorations and periodontal status.

AB - The aim of the study was to evaluate the reliability of methods used for forensic dental age estimation. We analysed all cases over the last 21 years (1984-2004) of unidentified bodies that were examined for identification purposes (including age assessment), and of which secure identification was subsequently achieved. In total, the study included 51 cases and 7 different methods had been used for dental age estimation, with the Bang/Ramm and the Gustafson/Johanson methods being the most frequently applied. The age estimates had usually been recorded as 10-year intervals. Factual ages at death were in the range of 6-76 years, with the largest concentration of cases being in the age interval of 25-55 years (34 cases). There was good agreement between estimated age interval and factual age at death in 37/51 (72%) of the cases. In eight cases the factual age at death deviated up to +/-5 years from the estimated age, and in six cases by more than 6 years. The average difference between factual age at death and estimated age was 4.5 years. The four subadults in the material were all correctly estimated within an age range of +/-3 years. Our study showed that forensic odontological age estimates are reliable. However, the implementation of the specific methods may need to be adjusted concerning age ranges. In the future we recommend to register anamnestic information and the different steps in the methods used. Clinical evaluation should contain more details about attrition, colour, number and presumed age of the restorations and periodontal status.

U2 - 10.1016/j.forsciint.2006.02.021

DO - 10.1016/j.forsciint.2006.02.021

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 16540275

SN - 0379-0738

VL - 159 Suppl 1

SP - 84

EP - 88

JO - Forensic Science International

JF - Forensic Science International

ER -