Palatine suture obliteration method for age estimates of burn victims with minimal tooth remains: a case report

Age estimation in adults by dental imaging assessment systematic review

Age is one of the most critical identifiers for both living and dead. Forensic professionals in medical and legal matters are often presented with dismembered, disfigured, putrefied, or skeletal remains for analysis. In such situations, it is essential to identify individuals and estimate their ages. The skull is typically thewell-preserved part of the body in such situations. If an aged person needs their age officially established for employment, superannuation, pension settlements, senior citizen benefits, etc., they may turn to medical professionals for help in making that determination. It has always been controversial to use cranial suture obliteration as a reference for age. Different geographicallocations have been shown to have vastly different patterns of cranial suture closure. Therefore, this study was conceptualized to assess cranial vault sutureobliteration in relation to age in the Meo population. This study was conducted to determine whether obliteration of cranial sutures can be taken into account for the estimation of age in elderly in this region and its reliability along with the influence of other factors such as sexand right and left side differences. A total of 100 cases of more than 20 years of age brought for medicolegal autopsy were analyzed. The coronal, sagittal, and lambdoid sutures were studied ectocranially and endocranially. The degree of obliteration of sutures was scored ectocranially as well as endocranially. Data were analyzed using IBMSPSSStatistics for Windows, Version 21 (Released 2012; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). Descriptive statistics were evaluated for continuous data in terms of mean and standard deviation, and categorical data were presented by frequency and percentages. An independent t-test was applied to find out the mean difference between the right and left sides of suture closure for ectocranial and endocranial surfaces. The Spearman rank correlation test was carried out to find out the relationship between the age and score of suture closure both ectocranially and endocranially. Ectocranially and endocranially, the overall sagittal suture obliterates early followed by coronal sutures and then lambdoid sutures. On comparing the mean ectocranial and mean endocranial scores of 100 subjects by applying an independent t-test, a highly significant difference was observed in all three sutures. On correlating ectocranial sutures and endocranial sutures and age at death in all the cases through sagittal, right and left coronal, and lambdoid by applying the Spearman rank correlation coefficient, a highly significant correlation was found in all the subjects combined (p-value 0.000). However, no significant correlation (p-value >0.05) was found in ectocranial and endocranial sagittal sutures in individual age groups. We concluded that obliteration on the endocranial surface is more reliable than on the ectocranial surface. No statistically significant difference exists on the obliteration of sutures on the right and left sides of coronal and lambdoid sutures. The lapsed union was evident in all three sutures ectocranially. Endocranial suture obliteration can be used as a corroborative tool for age estimation.

Dental age estimation in adults using the Lamendin criteria: Validation of a bayesian model in the Brazilian population

Age estimation is crucial in forensic sciences for victim identification, migration studies, and bioarchaeology. In subadults, it is based on maturational changes, while in adults, it relies on degenerative processes, reducing accuracy. Traditional methods, such as anthropological and dental approaches, are widely used, but recent advances in biochemical and molecular biology (BMB) have introduced epigenetic and biochemical analyses. Given the variability in biological aging, it is essential to evaluate and compare these methods for more precise and reproducible results. This article is a scoping review analyzing the accuracy of anthropological, dental, and BMB methods for estimating age in living individuals, cadavers, and adult skeletal remains. A scoping review following PRISMA-ScR guidelines was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and WOS, covering studies from 2015 to 2024. Articles applying regression models for age estimation and reporting error metrics were included, while reviews and studies without precision data were excluded. Anthropological methods analyze degenerative changes in bone structures, such as the pubic symphysis and acetabulum, with error margins of 4-25years. Forensic dentistry uses pulp-to-tooth ratios and secondary dentin deposition, yielding mean errors of 2.5-12.5years. BMB methods, such as DNA methylation, telomere shortening, and aspartic acid racemization, offer accuracies of ± 3 to ± 10years but require specialized equipment. Artificial intelligence enhances reproducibility, although standardization challenges remain. Age estimation in adults, particularly those over 40, remains challenging. Validating traditional methods, integrating AI, and applying multivariate molecular models can improve accuracy. A multidisciplinary approach is essential for forensic applications.

Forensic odontology plays a significant role in human identification. Forensic odontology through dental identification will be crucial when fingerprinting is invalid due to the disintegrated body as teeth usually are the last part of the body that remains when the body is decomposed or burned. One of the ways for human identification is through age estimation. There are various methods to estimate age through the dental aspect. However, the radiological method has received attention for its non-destructive method. Age estimation in children can be done by seeing its dentition period. However, adult age estimation has been a challenge. Secondary dentin deposition and pulp reduction throughout age were stated to have the ability to estimate adult age. This review compares the Kvaal method and Cameriere method in adult age estimation, which assess the pulp reduction due to the secondary dentin deposition through the dental radiological method. Data searches were conducted through four databases, including PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO, and Scielo, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). Differences between Kvaal and Cameriere original method include the radiograph used, tooth used, measurement tools, and measurement variables used. Most studies showed that the periapical radiograph gave more accurate results compared to the panoramic in both methods. Moreover, most studies showed no significant difference between gender and diverse results between age groups in both methods. The population used in the study, methodology, observers’ reliability in the measurement, and the secondary dentin pattern affect the result and reliability of both methods.

Objective To explore the feasibility of the CT image reconstruction of laryngeal cartilage and hyoid bone in adult age estimation using data mining methods. Methods The neck thin slice CT scans of 413 individuals aged 18 to <80 years were collected and divided into test set and train set, randomly. According to grading methods such as TURK et al., all samples were graded comprehensively. The process of thyroid cartilage ossification was divided into 6 stages, the process of cricoid cartilage ossification was divided into 5 stages, and the synosteosis between the greater horn of hyoid and hyoid body was divided into 3 stages. Multiple linear regression model, support vector regression model, and Bayesian ridge regression model were developed for adult age estimation by scikit-learn 0.17 machine learning kit （Python language）. Leave-one-out cross-validation and the test set were used to further evaluate performance of the models. Results All indicators were moderately or poorly associated with age. The model with the highest accuracy in male age estimation was the support vector regression model, with a mean absolute error of 8.67 years, much higher than the other two models. The model with the highest accuracy in female adult age estimation was the support vector regression model, with a mean absolute error of 12.69 years, but its accuracy differences with the other two models had no statistical significance. Conclusion Data mining technology can improve the accuracy of adult age estimation, but the accuracy of adult age estimation based on laryngeal cartilage and hyoid bone is still not satisfactory, so it should be combined with other indicators in practice.

The aim of this pilot study is to explore the possibility of developing a method for dental age estimation in adults, regardless of their nationality or ethnic background, by reconstructing only a fraction of the tooth, generating linear regression models and an equation for age estimation. Eighty-one anonymized cone beam computed tomography images obtained from two different population groups were used. Only sex and age information was known. One group had a Latin-American background (Colombian individuals aged 23 to 71 years) and the other had an Asian background (Malaysian individuals aged 15 to 58 years) The analysed tooth was the maxillary canine, on which was done automatic volume reconstruction of the cervical third of root and root canal. Sample analysis showed that the ages were unequally distributed in the two groups, but by combining them a more equal age distribution was obtained. The correlation coefficient between pulp/pulp+tooth volume ratio increased when data from individuals of both populations were included in the same statistical analysis (R 2 = 0.42). It has been established that methods for age estimation must be population specific. This study presents an analysis including data from individuals that are ethnically different and geographically separated, obtaining promising results.

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) to measure the bone mineral density (BMD) in the medial meta-epiphyseal region of clavicle (MERC) for adult age estimation. A total of 1064 chest MDCT scans from individuals aged 21 to 102years were utilized to determine the MERC BMD. The Mimics software was used for the BMD measurements, and the average BMD of both MERC was also calculated. Regression analysis was conducted with chronological age as a dependent variable and MERC BMD as an independent variable to establish a mathematical model for age estimation. The mean absolute error (MAE) was calculated to evaluate the accuracy of the regression model using an independent validation sample. Among all the models, the cubic regression model showed the highest correlation between MERC BMD and chronological age and also provided the most accurate age prediction for both males and females (MAE = 9.41 for males, MAE = 10.38 for females). Our study suggests that BMD measured by MERC can be utilized for age estimation in adults when more reliable indicators are not available.

The age estimation of an adult using methods accessible to the forensic routine is a goal pursued by forensic experts. Cameriere, Ferrante and Cingolani (2004) proposed the use of the pulp/tooth area ratio of canine teeth as a promising variable, but its reliability has shown conflicting results in the scientific literature. This articleaimed to carry outa systematic review with meta-analysis to verify whether the pulp/tooth area ratio of canine teeth includes a variable that can be used alone to estimate dental age in adults. A systematic search was carried out in six databases using keywords related to the theme in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. The study selection process followed pre-established eligibility criteria. Assessments were carried out regarding risk of bias and publication bias of selected studies, and meta-analysis was carried out considering Pearson's correlation coefficient between pulp/tooth area ratio and chronological age as effect measure. Most selected studies showed low risk of bias; no publication bias was found when all studies were considered, and potential publication bias was found when outliers were removed. Despite the high heterogeneity among studies and the need for more research, it could be observed that the pulp/tooth area ratio has strong negative correlation with chronological age, and the pulp/tooth area ratio could be derived from both periapical radiographs and orthopantomographs. Therefore, it is suggested that there is scientific evidence that the pulp/tooth area ratio obtained from canine teeth is reliable for dental age estimation in adults.

Age estimation is crucial in various forensic fields, including forensic medicine, anthropology, and demographic studies. Adult dental age estimation is affected by multiple factors, resulting in discrepancies between dental age and chronological age. The development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology has led to extensive investigations in forensic sciences, encompassing several areas such as facial recognition, age, sex identification, and DNA analysis. Adult age estimation methods commonly used include the pulp-tooth ratio approach, the Harris &amp; Nortje method, and the Van Heerden method. AI approaches such as Fuzzy Logic (FL), Evolutionary Computing (EC), and Machine Learning (ML) are being extensively applied. These techniques use algorithms to imitate human thinking and behavior. Deep learning techniques, explicitly using deep convolutional neural networks (DCNN), enable age estimation by segmenting images and making measurements, replicating the cognitive processes of radiologists when computing indices such as the third molar maturity (I3M) index. Also, DCNNs automatically optimize teeth segmentation in dental X-ray images, improving image refining and analysis efficiency. AI integration in forensic dentistry improves the precision and effectiveness of dental data processing while significantly accelerating individual identification procedures. Incorporating this technology shows potential for enhancing the caliber and dependability of evidence in forensic investigations.

The use of decision tree analysis for improving age estimation standards from the acetabulum

BackgroundAge estimation has been an integral part of forensic science, and age estimation by dental means is by far the most commonly employed method. Dental age estimation in children is more accurate and straightforward as most methods use the chronological stages of odontogenesis that are highly systematic, reducing the chances of dispersed results. In contrast, estimation of age in adults becomes tricky and less accurate with varied approaches since tooth formation is already complete.Main bodyThe methods of adult dental age estimation have come a long way from a calculated guess based on crude visual observation of teeth to radiological methods and to more recent sophisticated methods. Technological advances have opened up molecular and genetic methods by utilizing DNA methylation and telomere length to improve the accuracy of age estimation by reducing error chances.ConclusionsAlthough dental age estimation methods in children and adolescents have been extensively reviewed, various adult age estimation methods are not reviewed as a whole. The aim of this review is to appraise the evolution of dental age estimation methods in adults over the years from mere visualization of dental attrition to employing more sophisticated means such as radioactive carbon dating and genetics. This comprehensive review also attempts to add an account of the accuracy and suitability of various adult dental age estimation methods.

Assessment of secondary dentin apposition is an observable phenomenon widely used to estimate age. An integrative review was performed by searching the keywords "computed tomography AND age estimation AND pulp tooth volume ratio" and "microfocus x-ray AND age estimation AND pulp tooth volume ratio" in the electronic platforms Embase, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science, in July 2020. Studies included: complete articles with age estimation from human teeth by use of computed tomography or micro-computed tomography, written in English, without time restriction. Excluded studies: not written in English or not in form of an article, clinical cases, literature reviews, if did not realize age estimations or if age estimation is done in animals teeth. The search resulted in 32 different articles. With application of the above criteria only 26 were reviewed. Data collected included: reference, year, country, tooth type, number of subjects, number of teeth, age group, image type, measuring instrument/software, type of analysis, coefficient of determination, correlation coefficient with age and accuracy. These data provided a quick global comparison of various methodologies that use the pulp/tooth relation, being practical for researchers and forensic team to which method they can use accordingly to a specific case and its expected accuracy.

Age estimation constitutes an important aspect of forensic research, investigation and human identification. For the purpose of age estimation, various markers within the skeletal framework are employed. Degenerative morphological changes in the skeleton can be used for age estimation in adults. Amongst the various bones, age-progressive changes in the innominate bone are of particular significance in age estimation. Within the pelvis, the acetabulum presents as a durable and well-preserved evidence, characteristic manifestations of which can be employed for age estimation. The present study aimed at a CT-based evaluation of acetabular changes for the purpose of age estimation in an Indian population. CT images of 250 individuals aged 10-88years were scrutinized according to the features defined in the Calce method of acetabular age estimation. Scores were allotted to the various features and a cumulative score was calculated. No significant bilateral and sex differences were observed. Significant correlation was obtained between the scores for these defined characteristics and the chronological age of individuals. Population-specific regression models were generated for age estimation. The scoring method devised in the present research requires further validation as it represents a new tool for age estimation in medico-legal cases.

To establish age estimation models of northern Chinese Han adults using cranial suture images obtained by CT and multiplanar reformation (MPR), and to explore the applicability of cranial suture closure rule in age estimation of northern Chinese Han population. The head CT samples of 132 northern Chinese Han adults aged 29-80 years were retrospectively collected. Volume reconstruction (VR) and MPR were performed on the skull, and 160 cranial suture tomography images were generated for each sample. Then the MPR images of cranial sutures were scored according to the closure grading criteria, and the mean closure grades of sagittal suture, coronal sutures (both left and right) and lambdoid sutures (both left and right) were calculated respectively. Finally taking the above grades as independent variables, the linear regression model and four machine learning models for age estimation (gradient boosting regression, support vector regression, decision tree regression and Bayesian ridge regression) were established for northern Chinese Han adults age estimation. The accuracy of each model was evaluated. Each cranial suture closure grade was positively correlated with age and the correlation of sagittal suture was the highest. All four machine learning models had higher age estimation accuracy than linear regression model. The support vector regression model had the highest accuracy among the machine learning models with a mean absolute error of 9.542 years. The combination of skull CT-MPR and machine learning model can be used for age estimation in northern Chinese Han adults, but it is still necessary to combine with other adult age estimation indicators in forensic practice.