title: Digital radiographic evaluation of mandibular third molar for age estimation in young adults and adolescents of South Indian population using modified Demirjian's method.
abstract: In recent years, it has become increasingly important to determine the age of living people for a variety of reasons, including identifying criminal and legal responsibility and for many other social events such as birth certificate, marriage, beginning a job, joining the army and retirement.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the developmental stages of mandibular third molar for estimation of dental age (DA) in different age groups and to evaluate the possible correlation between DA and chronological age (CA) in South Indian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Digital orthopantomography of 330 subjects (165 males, 165 females) who fit the study and the criteria were obtained. Assessment of mandibular third molar development was performed using Demirjian et al., modified method and DA was assessed using tooth specific stages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study showed a significant correlation between DA and CA in both males and females. Third molar development commenced around 9 years and root completion takes place around 18.9 years in males and in females 9 years and 18.6 years respectively. Demirjian modified method underestimated the mean age of males by 0.8 years and females by 0.5 years and also showed that females mature earlier than males in selected population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Digital radiographic assessment of mandibular third molar development can be used to generate mean DA using Demirjian modified method and also the estimated age range for an individual of unknown CA. Since the Demirjian method is based on French-Canadian population, to enhance the accuracy of forensic age estimates based on third molar development, the use of population-specific standards is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, GITAM Dental College and Hospital, Rushikonda, Visakhapatnam, India.
authors.forename: Rezwana Begum
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Mohammed
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Kalinga Institute of Dental Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
authors.forename: Ravichandra
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Koganti
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Mamata Dental College and Hospital, Khammam, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Siva V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Kalyan
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Mamata Dental College and Hospital, Khammam, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Saritha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tircouveluri
authors.affiliation: Chhattisgarh Dental College and Research Institute, Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, India.
authors.forename: Johar Rajvinder
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Government Dental College and Hospital, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Enganti
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Srinivasulu
keywords: Age estimation; chronological age; dental age; forensic odontology; mandibular third molar; south Indian population