title: Validity and reliability of dental age estimation of teeth root translucency based on digital luminance determination.
abstract: In forensic anthropological casework, estimating age-at-death is key to profiling unknown skeletal remains. The aim of this study was to examine the reliability of a new, simple, fast, and inexpensive digital odontological method for age-at-death estimation. The method is based on the original Lamendin method, which is a widely used technique in the repertoire of odontological aging methods in forensic anthropology. We examined 129 single root teeth employing a digital camera and imaging software for the measurement of the luminance of the teeth's translucent root zone. Variability in luminance detection was evaluated using statistical technical error of measurement analysis. The method revealed stable values largely unrelated to observer experience, whereas requisite formulas proved to be camera-specific and should therefore be generated for an individual recording setting based on samples of known chronological age. Multiple regression analysis showed a highly significant influence of the coefficients of the variables "arithmetic mean" and "standard deviation" of luminance for the regression formula. For the use of this primer multivariate equation for age-at-death estimation in casework, a standard error of the estimate of 6.51 years was calculated. Step-by-step reduction of the number of embedded variables to linear regression analysis employing the best contributor "arithmetic mean" of luminance yielded a regression equation with a standard error of 6.72 years (p < 0.001). The results of this study not only support the premise of root translucency as an age-related phenomenon, but also demonstrate that translucency reflects a number of other influencing factors in addition to age. This new digital measuring technique of the zone of dental root luminance can broaden the array of methods available for estimating chronological age, and furthermore facilitate measurement and age classification due to its low dependence on observer experience.
authors: Institute of Forensic Medicine, Saarland University, Bldg. 42, D-66421, Homburg/Saar, Germany, frank.ramsthaler@uks.eu.
authors: Frank
authors: F
authors: Ramsthaler
authors: Mattias
authors: M
authors: Kettner
authors: Marcel A
authors: MA
authors: Verhoff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000366:Age Determination by Teeth / Q000379:methods*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003201:Computers; D003804:Dentin / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008163:Luminescent Measurements / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000473:pathology*
references: J Forensic Sci. 2004 Nov;49(6):1319-23
references: 15568706
references: Am J Phys Anthropol. 1997 Oct;104(2):259-65
references: 9386831
references: J Forensic Odontostomatol. 1989 Jun;7(2):3-9
references: 2639878
references: Forensic Sci Int. 2001 Nov 1;122(2-3):101-6
references: 11672963
references: Int J Legal Med. 2012 Nov;126(6):883-7
references: 22885953
references: Anthropol Anz. 1993 Mar;51(1):41-6
references: 8476273
references: Inf Dent. 1972 Apr 27;54(17):1647-62
references: 4502782
references: J Forensic Sci. 1992 Sep;37(5):1373-9
references: 1402761
references: J Forensic Sci. 1995 Mar;40(2):222-7
references: 7602282
references: Forensic Sci Int. 2009 Dec 15;193(1-3):1-13
references: 19879075
references: J Forensic Odontostomatol. 2001 Jun;19(1):9-17
references: 11494678
references: Forensic Sci Int. 1990 Oct;47(3):237-47
references: 2249792
references: J Forensic Sci. 1996 Mar;41(2):189-94
references: 8871375
references: J Forensic Sci. 2003 Jan;48(1):149-52
references: 12570217
references: Int J Legal Med. 2012 Jul;126(4):615-21
references: 22580780
references: Z Rechtsmed. 1980;86(1):29-34
references: 7467875
references: Int J Forensic Dent. 1973 Jul;1(1):4-7
references: 4519318
references: Arch Med Sadowej Kryminol. 2005 Jul-Sep;55(3):185-9
references: 16320766
references: Forensic Sci Int. 2002 May 23;126(3):221-6
references: 12062945
references: Arch Oral Biol. 1999 Nov;44(11):889-99
references: 10580536
references: Forensic Sci Int. 1993 May;59(2):137-47
references: 8330806
references: J Forensic Sci. 1979 Jan;24(1):168-72
references: 512600
references: J Am Dent Assoc. 1947 Nov 15;35(10):720-4
references: 20269067
references: Int J Legal Med. 2012 Nov;126(6):933-42
references: 23010906
references: Anthropol Anz. 2005 Jun;63(2):221-32
references: 15962573
references: Int J Legal Med. 2000;113(3):129-36
references: 10876982
references: Acta Odontol Scand. 1970 Mar;28(1):3-35
references: 5265990
references: J Forensic Odontostomatol. 1994 Jun;12(1):6-11
references: 9227083
references: Am J Phys Anthropol. 2010 Dec;143(4):545-54
references: 20623675
references: Hum Biol. 1973 May;45(2):211-27
references: 4714564
references: J Forensic Sci. 2008 May;53(3):608-11
references: 18471205
references: Am J Phys Anthropol. 2006 Nov;131(3):363-7
references: 16617435
references: J Forensic Sci. 2002 Jan;47(1):107-16
references: 12064635
references: Int J Legal Med. 1995;107(4):183-6
references: 7599093
references: J Am Dent Assoc. 1950 Jul;41(1):45-54
references: 15428197
references: Forensic Sci Int. 2006 May 15;159 Suppl 1:S56-60
references: 16542802
references: J Forensic Sci. 2007 Sep;52(5):1156-60
references: 17645490
references: Am J Hum Biol. 1991;3(6):629-637
references: 28524286
references: Dentomaxillofac Radiol. 1996 Sep;25(4):173-8
references: 9084269
references: Int J Legal Med. 2012 Jan;126(1):107-12
references: 21755363