Forensic determines an individual’s age identification. Forensic cases in a mass-casualty incident often leave human bones or some part of the jaw of the victims. In such cases, the odontologist was required to check and identify the victim’s age.

This study aims to calculate the lower third molar maturity indexes, by comparing the left and right sides of the third molar maturity in a multiethnic population.

The multi-ethnic study includes African, North American, South American, Asian, and European ethnicities. Odontologist was expected to identify the victim’s estimated age through a part of or one of the jaw’s sides. A sample of 10,181 orthopantomograms (OPGs) was analyzed. Based on the sex and age selection, it was collected 1,631 subjects from Africa, 861 from North and South America, 3,919 from Asia; and 3,770 from Europe. The samples were selected using orthopantomograms by showing the whole permanent teeth until the third molar. The excluded samples are caries teeth, the ones with jaw pathology, the short roots, and the teeth under treatment.

The results and monitoring of the left and right teeth were shown no significant differences. It is concluded that the odontologist is able to identify the victim’s age through one side of the jaw.

Author: Prof. Dr. Mieke Sylvia Margaretha Amiatun Ruth, drg., M.S., Sp.Ort.

Topic: Comparison of the third molar maturity index (I3M) between left and right lower third molars to assess the age of majority: a multi-ethnic study sample

International journal of Legal Medicine 2021 Nov;135(6):2423-2436. doi: 10.1007/s00414-021-02656-2. Epub 2021 Jul 6. © 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00414-021-02656-2