Age Determination

Clinical/Visual Method

Most reliable and easiest approach of age estimation.

Mile’s Method of Age Estimation

When considering dentitions from unsophisticated societies an approximate guide to the age of an individual may be obtained by assessing the relative ‘wear’ of the three molar teeth.

Radiographic Method

It gives information like appearance of tooth germs, stage of mineralization, degree of crown completion, and eruption.

Panoramic Radiography

Used to measure length (mm) of the crown and of the coronal pulp cavity height or length.

Tooth-coronal Index

Computed for each tooth and regressed on the real age of the sample.

Harris and Nortje Method

Method that has five stages of 3rd molar development with corresponding mean ages and length.

Van Heerden System

Assessed the development of mesial root of the 3rd molar to determine the age.

Van Heerden System

(Method) Described the development of the mesial root in 5 stages using panoramic radiographs.

Histologic Method

Require the preparation of the tissues for detailed microscopic examination, which can determine more accurately the stage of development of the dentition.

Histologic Method

This technique is more appropriate for postmortem situations; also significant in estimation of age of early development of dentition.

Gustafson’s Method

Method for age estimation based on morphological and histological changes of the teeth.

A0

(Attrition) No attrition.

A1

(Attrition) Attrition limited to enamel level.

A2

(Attrition) Attrition limited to dentin level.

A3

(Attrition) Attrition up to pulp cavity.

P0

(Periodontal Disease) No obvious periodontal disease.

P1

(Periodontal Disease) Beginning of periodontal disease but no bone loss.

P2

(Periodontal Disease) Periodontal disease more than 1/3 of the root.

P3

(Periodontal Disease) Periodontal disease more than 2/3 of the root.

S0

(Secondary Dentin) No secondary dentin formation.

S1

(Secondary Dentin) Secondary dentin up to the upper part of the pulp cavity.

S2

(Secondary Dentin) Secondary dentin up to the 2/3 of the pulp cavity.

S3

(Secondary Dentin) Diffuse calcification of the entire pulp cavity.

C0

(Cementum) Normal cementum.

C1

(Cementum) Thickness of cementum more normal.

C2

(Cementum) Abnormal thickness of cementum near the apex of the root.

C3

(Cementum) Generalized abnormal thickness of cementum throughout the apex of the root.

Johnson

Recognized as best to age estimation.

Bang and Ramm

Root translucency increases with age.

Secondary

Size of the pulp chamber indicates the amount of _________ dentin formation.

Peritubular Dentin

A mineralized deposit formed centripetally in the dentin tubules with advancing age, so that the tubular diameter is smaller in teeth from adult patients.

Neonatal Lines

These lines are present in both enamel and dentine of deciduous teeth and permanent first molars which indicate the development during the transitional period between intrauterine and extra uterine environments.

Enamel Matrix

The ______ ______ internal to neonatal line represents the enamel formed before birth and the enamel matrix external to it is formed after birth.

Incremental Lines of Von Ebner - Contour Lines of Owen

These lines are used to estimate age of the neonate or fetus at death (2).

Incremental Lines of Retzius

Are caused by variation in the rhythmic mineralization of enamel prisms.

Moores, Fanning, and Hunt Method

(Method) The dental development was studied in 14 stages of mineralization for developing single and multirooted tooth.

Age Estimation using Open Apices (Cameriere Method)

(Method) 7 left permanent mandibular teeth were valued.

Calvarium

Much larger in relation to the face and mandible between ages 0-5.

Lamboidal Suture

Begins closing at age 21, accelerates at 26, closes at 30.

32

Sagittal suture closes by about what age?

50

Coronal suture is closed at about what age?