title: Dental age estimation of living persons: Comparison of MRI with OPG.
abstract: The need for forensic age estimations in living adolescents is high mainly due to migration, particularly from countries where birth dates are not reliably documented. To date, the gold standard of dental age estimation is the evaluation of the mineralization and eruption stages of the third molars using an orthopantomogram (OPG). However, the use of ionizing radiation without medical indication is ethically controversial and not permitted in many countries. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate if dental MRI can be used for the assessment of dental age with equally good results as when using an OPG. 27 healthy volunteers (19 ♀, 8 ♂, age range 13.6-23.1 years, median 18.9 years) underwent an MRI scan of the jaw after a clinically indicated OPG. Mineralization and eruption stages of the molars were independently analyzed on OPGs and MRI by two blinded dentists according to the staging system established by Demirjian and Olze, respectively. The results of OPG and MRI were compared and inter-rater agreement was determined. The developmental stages of the 262 evaluated molars could be clearly differentiated in MRI. For both, mineralization and eruption, there was a good correlation between MRI and OPG. Overall MRI tended to yield slightly lower stages than the OPG. Inter-rater agreement was moderate for mineralization and good regarding eruption. Although a validation of these results using modality-specific reference values is needed, dental MRI seems to be suitable for a use in dental age estimation.
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Clinical-Forensic Imaging, Universitätsplatz 4/II, 8010 Graz, Austria; Institute of Forensic Medicine, Medical University Graz, Universitätsplatz 4/II, 8010 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baumann
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Clinical-Forensic Imaging, Universitätsplatz 4/II, 8010 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Widek
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Clinical-Forensic Imaging, Universitätsplatz 4/II, 8010 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Heiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Merkens
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Julius Maximilians University Würzburg, Pleicherwall 2, 97070 Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boldt
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Clinical-Forensic Imaging, Universitätsplatz 4/II, 8010 Graz, Austria; Institute of Medical Engineering, BioTechMed, Graz University of Technology, Kronesgasse 5/II, 8010 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petrovic
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Clinical-Forensic Imaging, Universitätsplatz 4/II, 8010 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Urschler
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery and Radiology, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 12, 8036 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kirnbauer
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery and Radiology, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 12, 8036 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jakse
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Clinical-Forensic Imaging, Universitätsplatz 4/II, 8010 Graz, Austria; Institute of Forensic Medicine, Medical University Graz, Universitätsplatz 4/II, 8010 Graz, Austria. Electronic address: eva.scheurer@cfi.lbg.ac.at.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scheurer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000366:Age Determination by Teeth / Q000379:methods*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008963:Molar / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development; D015588:Observer Variation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D014074:Tooth Calcification; D014078:Tooth Eruption; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Age estimation; Eruption; Forensic; MRI; Mineralization; Molar