title: Cameriere's third molar maturity index in assessing age of majority.
abstract: Estimation of chronological age of an individual is one of the main challenges in forensic science. Legally to be able to treat a person as a minor or an adult, it is necessary to determine whether their age of majority (if they are older or younger than 18, in most countries). Methods for estimating age are especially important when an individual in question lacks personal documents or other means of identification. As the dental age differs in various populations, the aim of this study was to evaluate applicability of third molar method for assessing age of majority in Croatia. Cameriere's third molar maturity index (I3M) value of 0.08, measured by the open apices of the teeth, was verified in sample of 1336 panoramic images aged between 14 and 23 years. Chronological age gradually decreased as I3M increased in both genders. Males showed statistically significant advanced maturation when I3M was between 0.0 and 0.3 value. The results indicate that the sensitivity of the test for 0.08 value was 84.3% (95%CI 80.6%, 87.5%) for females and 91.2% (95%CI 88.7%, 93.1) for males. Specificity was 95.4% (95%CI 92.5%, 97.5%) and 91.9% (95%CI 88.8%, 94.3%). The proportions of accurately classified males were 88.8% and that of females 91.5%. The estimated post-test probabilities, of individuals, in other word the probability that a Croatian individual with an I3M<0.08 is 18 years or older is 94.5% for females, and 96.5% for males. With high accuracy, the third molar maturity index should be used as a determinant of the age of majority in Croatia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Research in Biomedicine and Health, University of Split, School of Medicine, Split, Croatia; Department of Research in Dental Medicine, University of Split, School of Medicine, Split, Croatia; University Hospital Centre Split, Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Galić
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, Faculty for Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia; Department of Otorinolaringology and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia. Electronic address: tomislav.lauc@ffzg.hr.
authors.forename: Tomislav
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lauc
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia; School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Hrvoje
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brkić
authors.affiliation: School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Marin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vodanović
authors.affiliation: Split-Dalmatia County Community Health Centre, Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Elizabeta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Galić
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Odontologia, Departamento de Odontologia Social, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Gabriela Haye
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Biazevic
authors.affiliation: Department of Research in Biomedicine and Health, University of Split, School of Medicine, Split, Croatia; Department of Research in Dental Medicine, University of Split, School of Medicine, Split, Croatia; University Hospital Centre Split, Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Brakus
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Centre Split, Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Jozo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Badrov
authors.affiliation: AgEstimation Project, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Macerata, Macerata, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cameriere
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000366:Age Determination by Teeth / Q000379:methods*; D017523:Croatia; D005260:Female; D005553:Forensic Dentistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000254:growth & development*; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Accompanied minors; Age estimation; Croatia; Forensic Anthropology Population Data; Illegal immigration; Third molar maturity index