Abstract
Methods A cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study was undertaken with 1060 Assamese individuals (642 males and 418 females) aged 14–26 years and was subjected to a clinical, dental, and general physical examination from January 2014 to December 2018. The data were statistically analyzed using Microsoft Excel and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. The significant differences among variables were tested using the chi-square test and Student's t-test, considering a p value < 0.05 as significant. Results The carried-out research showed no eruption (NE) status of M3 with an overall mean (±SD) age at 17.39 (±2.273) years, although a significantly lower age among males with a mean age of 16.92 (±2.138) years (p value < 0.001) was observed. The mean age (overall) for the complete eruption (CE) was observed at 20.33 (±2.566) years, which was seen earlier in males. The mandibular M3 appears earlier compared to the maxillary M3. The third molar eruption (TME) on both left and right quadrants of the jaw was observed substantially earlier in the lower jaw, compared to the upper jaw (p value < 0.025). The earliest CE of M3 was marked at 15 years. The differences in the frequencies of TME in different chronological age groups were found significant (p value < 0.001). A significant association between gender and TME (p value < 0.045) in the current study is worth noting. Conclusion Thus, determined by TME as a valid method, age can be used for various purposes to establish a person's identity. Dental age estimated using third molar eruption status has a weighty association with chronological age. Thus, it should be utilized to determine the likely age of an individual.
Highlights
Due to the vast individual variation, determining a person’s age for identification is often challenging for medical professionals
As per the stages of the eruption of the third molar based on the clinical dental examinations, the patients were categorized as no eruption (NE) status if the third molar is not visible in any of the quadrants of the jaw, incomplete eruption (IE) status if any of the third molars have visibly erupted but not all four, and complete eruption (CE) status if all four third molars have erupted at the time of the study
The gender-wise analysis showed that the eruption of M3 was earlier in males compared to females as the mean age of NE status of the third molar eruption (TME) among males was substantially lower (16:92 ± 2:138 years) as compared to that of females with a mean age of 18:02 ± 2:303 years (p value < 0.001)
Summary
Due to the vast individual variation, determining a person’s age for identification is often challenging for medical professionals. It is a crucial activity frequently required to be carried out by forensic medicine experts and other medical officers in general. The carried-out research showed no eruption (NE) status of M3 with an overall mean (±SD) age at 17.39 (±2.273) years, a significantly lower age among males with a mean age of 16.92 (±2.138) years (p value < 0.001) was observed. The third molar eruption (TME) on both left and right quadrants of the jaw was observed substantially earlier in the lower jaw, compared to the upper jaw (p value < 0.025). It should be utilized to determine the likely age of an individual
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