Age estimation in children by measurement of open apices in teeth

This paper concerns a method for estimating the age of children based on their teeth. The sample consisted of 455 Italian white children (213 boys, 242 girls) aged between 5 and 15 years. The purpose of the present investigation was to present a method for assessing chronological age based on the relationship between age and measurement of the open apices in teeth. Pearson\u2019s correlation coefficients between age and these variables showed that the correlations between age and the open apices in teeth were significant and negative. Furthermore, gender and the number of teeth with the apical end of the root canals completely closed (N0) showed a significant correlation with chronological age. With the aid of a stepwise multiple regression model, a linear relationship between open apices, N0, and age was shown. Statistical analysis indicated that these morphological variables explain 83.6% of the variations in estimated chronological age. The median of residual errors between the actual and estimated ages was 120.035 years [interquartile range (IQR)=1.18 years]

Variations in pulp/tooth area ratio as an indicator of age: a preliminary study

This paper details for age determination of adult from single rooted theeth. The sample consisted of 100 Italians white Caucasioan patients (46 men, 54 womwn) aged between 18 and 72 years. The single rooted maxillary right canine was utilized in this preliminary study. Pulp/root ration, tooth length ratio, pulp/root area and pulp/root width ratios at three different levels were computed. Pearson's correlation coefficients between age and these variables showed that the ratio between pulp and tooth area correlated best with age (r2 = 0,85). Stepwise multiple regression models yielded a linear relationship between pulp/root width at mid-root level and chronological age and a linear relationship when pulp/tooth area was compared to age. Statistical analysis indicated that these two variables explain 84,9% of variations in estimated chronological age. The median of the absolute value of residual errors between actual and estimated ages was less than four years

Carpals and epiphysis of radius and ulna as age indicators

Estimation of skeletal age using radiographic images is widely used for assessing biological growth in clinical and auxological studies. The most frequent areas used for age estimation in children and adolescents are tooth and wrist/hand, both giving good results with only a low level of radiation. In particular, ossification of the carpals shows good agreement with chronological age. This study of a sample of 150 Italian children and adolescents aged between 5 and 17 years focused on analyzing the possible applications of the proportion of carpal area (Ca) mineralization as a criterion of age estimation. The ratio between the total area of carpal bones and epiphyses of the ulna and radius (Bo) andCa was calculated. This ratio (Bo/Ca) was used for linear regression analysis. The regression model, describing age as a linear function of the ratio Bo/Ca, yielded the following equation: Age= 123.253+0.719g+20.610 Bo/Ca, and explained 83% of the total variance (R2=0.83). The median of the absolute values of residuals (observed age minus predicted age) was 0.08 years, with a quartile deviation of 1.59 years, and a standard error of estimate of 1.19 years

Age estimation in children by measurement of open apices in teeth: an Indian formula.

The aim of this paper is twofold: first, to evaluate an Indian sample by Cameriere\u2019s European formula; and second, if this formula turns out to be unsuitable, to study a specific formula for Indian children. Orthopantomographs taken from 480 Indian children (227 girls and 253 boys) aged between 3 and 15 years were analyzed. Following the pilot study, subjects\u2019 age was modeled as a function of gender (g), region of country (C), and morphological variables (predictors: x5, the distance between the inner sides of the open apex of the second premolar divided by the tooth length; s \ubc x1 \ufe x2 \ufe x3 \ufe x4 \ufe x5 \ufe x6 \ufe x7, sum of normalized open apices; N0, the number of teeth with root development complete. Results showed that all these variables except gender and second premolar contributed significantly to the fit so that all were included in the regression model, yielding the following linear regression formula: Age \ubc 9:402 0:879 C \ufe 0:663 N0 0:711 s 0:106s N0 where C is a dummy variable equal to 0 for the center or north of India and 1 for the south. The above equation, with the variables considered, explained 89.7% (R2=0.897) of total deviance. The median of the residuals (observed age minus predicted age) was \u20130.063 years, with an interquartile range of 1.10 years

The measurement of open apices of teeth to test chronological age of over 14-year-olds in living subjects

Age determination in living subjects is a problem of increasing interest in our community, due to the increasing numbers of individuals without identification papers, who have immigrated illegally or committed crimes, and for whom it is necessary to verify whether they have reached the age of 14 years in order to be charged legally. Although the most widespread methods for age estimation refer to skeletal or dental analysis, these methods do present some drawbacks for identification of the age of 14. The aim of the present study is to discriminate between children who are or are not 14 years of age or older by measuring the open apices of teeth. We evaluated the OPGs of 447 persons aged between 12 and 16 years, of Italian, Croatian and Slovenian nationality. For each individual, dental maturity was estimated using the number of the seven left permanent mandibular teeth with root development complete, and normalized measurement of the open apices of the third molar. The results revealed that an individual is considered to be 14 years of age or older if all seven left permanent mandibular teeth have closed apices and the normalized measurement of open apices of the third molar is lower than 1.1

Age estimation by tooth/pulp ratio in canines by peri-apical X-rays: reliability in age determination of Spanish and Italian medieval skeletal remains

Estimation of age at death is an unavoidable step in the process of human identification, both in forensic practice and in the anthropological and palaeopathological study of skeletal remains. In several cases, in which medical or demographic records are completely lacking, a reliable estimation of the age at death becomes very important. Skeletal remains from archaeological contexts suffer from several biasing factors such as post-mortem changes, taphonomy and various burial practices depending on age, sex and social status of the deceased persons. Currently, anthropological methods of age determination reveal several possibilities of inaccuracy. Of all the body parts used in age estimation, teeth are the least affected by any taphonomic process. Although there are many dental methods for age at death estimation, some of them are very complex and/or destructive and they are not normally used in anthropology. However, study of the apposition of secondary dentine by examining peri-apical X-rays of canines is beginning to supply very interesting results. The aim of this work was to test Cameriere\u2019s method on a large sample of historical subjects from several cemeteries in Spain and Italy. The Spanish sample belongs to the Medieval cemetery of La Torrecilla (Arenas del Rey, Granada) and is housed in the Laboratory of Anthropology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada. The Italian samples come from the Medieval cemeteries of Comacchio (Ferrara) and Castel S. Pietro (Bologna). In order to test the reliability of Cameriere\u2019s method, age estimations of canines were compared with the mean ranges of age of the most commonly applied anthropological methods such as tooth wear changes in the pubic symphysis or the metamorphosis of the auricular surface of the ilium. Tests on these Middle Ages cemeteries produced satisfactory results, indicating that Cameriere\u2019s method is a reliable tool in determining age at death in skeletal remains of archaeological context

Age Estimation in Children by Measurement of Open Apices in Teeth

This paper concerns a method for estimating the age of children based on their teeth. The sample consisted of 455 Italian white children (213 boys, 242 girls) aged between 5 and 15 years. The purpose of the present investigation was to present a method for assessing chronological age based on the relationship between age and measurement of the open apices in teeth. Pearson’s correlation coefficients between age and these variables showed that the correlations between age and the open apices in teeth were significant and negative. Furthermore,gender and the number of teeth with the apical end of the root canals completely closed (N0) showed a significant correlation with chronological age. With the aid of a stepwise multiple regression model, a linear relationship between open apices, N0, and age was shown. Statistical analysis indicated that these morphological variables explain 83.6% of the variations in estimated chronological age. The median of residual errors between the actual and estimated ages was −0.035 years [interquartile range (IQR)=1.18 years]