Study of forensic age assessment using Kvaal's method with digital orthopantomographs (OPG)

Abstract

Age is one of the important factor in making the identity of a person. Anthropologists, Archaeologists and Forensic scientists determine the age for identity of a person. Kvaal and Solheim given a method used on adults for calculation of age with the help of morphological and radiological methods, but extraction was still required. Present study was an observational study under taken for forensic age assessment using Kvaal's method with digital orthopantomographs. In the present study out of 100 subjects, maximum number of subjects from age group of 20–29 (61), 43 were females and 57 were males. Coefficient of determination was highest for lower first premolar (0.517) followed by upper central incisor (0.178), lower canine (0.134), lower lateral incisors, upper second premolar and upper lateral incisors. M & W-Lwere found significant predictors for lower first premolar, lower canine and upper central incisors. Regression equation derived for combined upper three teeth & lower three teeth revealed that coefficient of determination (R2) was significant higher for lower three teeth (0.478) than upper three teeth (0.069) with M & W-L were significant predictor. Regression equation derived for all six teeth together shows significant coefficient ofdetermination R2 (0.430) with M, W-L both are significant predictors. When all the six teeth taken together & compared for actual age & estimated age, mean difference was found to be (0.007). Kvaal's method for estimating age using digital orthopantomographs can be used for near accurate age estimation in 20–60 years age population with out removal of tooth.