title: Estimation of legal age using calcification stages of third molars in living individuals.
abstract: The increased number of adolescents and young adults with unknown or inaccurately given date of birth is a current issue in justice and legal medicine. The objective of this study was to determine the extent to which third molar calcification stages assessed on panoramic X-rays could be useful as additional criteria for forensic age estimation in living individuals, focusing on the legally important ages 17 and 18. In a retrospective multi-center study, the developmental stage of each individual's third molar was analyzed using Demirjian's scale in 2360 cases. Additionally, sex, age and ancestry were assessed. Individuals with the lowest calcification stage of all present molars in stage H were ≥18 years with a likelihood of ≥99.05% in the female (n=388), and ≥99.24% in the male (n=482) population. The lowest calcification stage of all present third molars proved to be useful as an additional reliable criterion for the determination of an age ≥18 years.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Klinikstrasse 33, 35385 Giessen, Germany. Electronic address: philipp.streckbein@uniklinikum-giessen.de.
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Streckbein
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Klinikstrasse 33, 35385 Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Reichert
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Forensic Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Frankfurter Strasse 58, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Marcel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Verhoff
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Statistics, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 44, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Rolf-Hasso
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Bödeker
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Klinikstrasse 33, 35385 Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kähling
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Klinikstrasse 33, 35385 Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan-Falco
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Wilbrand
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Klinikstrasse 33, 35385 Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Heidrun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schaaf
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Klinikstrasse 33, 35385 Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Howaldt
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Klinikstrasse 33, 35385 Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: May
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000366:Age Determination by Teeth / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005553:Forensic Dentistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development*; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014074:Tooth Calcification; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Age assessment; Demirjian's scale; Forensic age estimation; Forensic odontology; Forensic science; Third molar development