Abstract
Background: The evaluation of the chronological age is a practical method in crime investigation field that assists in identifying individuals to treat them as underage or adult. This study aimed to assess the stages of third molars mineralization in relation to chronological age of Iraqi individuals, determine the gender differences and arches (maxillary/mandibular) differences.
 Materials and Methods: A total of 300 orthopantomograms of orthodontic patients were collected according to specific criteria and evaluated visually. The developmental stages of maxillary and mandibular third molars were determined according to Demirjian method. The chronological age was recorded according to the particular mineralization stages at which it reached considering genders, sides and jaws. Comparisons were done using paired sample and independent sample t-tests.
 Results: Results showed that there was no statistically significant difference (P>0.05) between maxillary and mandibular third molars. The maxillary third molars reached earlier than mandibular one in stages F and G. There was no significant difference between the mean ages of males and females at each given developmental stage in the maxillary and mandibular third molars except for the stage D in the maxilla and stages D and E in the mandible. The development of third molar teeth on the right and left sides was similar except for the maxillary arch in males when there was a significant difference in stage C and D and stage E in the mandibular arch.
 Conclusion: The Demirjian method is an excellent approach for age assessment using Orthopantomogram. All of the differences between the current study and other studies could be because of the difference in the populations who were chosen from different geographical areas.
 Keywords: Age estimation, Demirjian method, third molar, Orthopantomogram, chronological age.
Highlights
Over the last period of time, the forensic age estimation in living people has gained great importance.[1]
The use of tooth developmental stages is considered as an accurate method of chronological age determination adopted over a long time independent of disease or malnutrition and other exogenic factors.[9]. The author depended on the third molar formation to assess the chronological age of the subjects due to the lack of different processes through the duration between the teenagers and early 20s.(19) It is very useful to use third molar mineralization stages in chronological age evaluation especially for the legal purposes of unknown victims.[20]. All selected OPGs belong to Iraqi outpatients attended the Department of Orthodontics at the College of Dentistry and two private orthodontic clinics
Sujatha et al[17] reported that stage D was early in males and stage G in females while in the Turkish population, both D and G stages were earlier in males than females.[24]. In the present study, the development of third molars in all stages was earlier in males than females except the maxillary third molars in stages E and F and in stage B, F and H in the mandibular third molar where females were earlier than males
Summary
Over the last period of time, the forensic age estimation in living people has gained great importance.[1]. This study aimed to assess the stages of third molars mineralization in relation to chronological age of Iraqi individuals, determine the gender differences and arches (maxillary/mandibular) differences. The developmental stages of maxillary and mandibular third molars were determined according to Demirjian method. The chronological age was recorded according to the particular mineralization stages at which it reached considering genders, sides and jaws. There was no significant difference between the mean ages of males and females at each given developmental stage in the maxillary and mandibular third molars except for the stage D in the maxilla and stages D and E in the mandible. The development of third molar teeth on the right and left sides was similar except for the maxillary arch in males when there was a significant difference in stage C and D and stage E in the mandibular arch.
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