Direct and Indirect Forensic Age Estimation Methods for Deciduous Teeth

Abstract

Age estimation from primary teeth is an important matter for forensic odontology, which can be found by the application of direct or indirect age estimation methods that are functions of tooth measurements. The most distinctive teeth among these are the upper central incisors, because of their early development. The aim of this study is to determine the age of fetuses or infants by measuring the tooth development directly from tooth surfaces or from indirect measurements obtained from the tooth structures on the computerized tomography digital images. The data of all measurements were statistically processed by regression analysis and regression formulas were derived. The results revealed that age could be estimated from various tooth dimensions within an accuracy of ±0-2 weeks for both methods and therefore indirect method -which was proposed as Virtual Dental Identification (VirDent-ID) by the authors PS. Aka and N. Canturk- could be a matter of choice instead of traditional direct oral autopsy methods. The best measurements for age estimation can be obtained from the longest vertical dimension, which is the tooth height, and the best age estimation formula was also generated from the tooth height. In conclusion, age formulas derived from direct or indirect measurements of fetus or infant tooth development stages may be used as an aid for dental identification, until the completion of upper central primary tooth development.