Abstract

Introduction: Teeth, which are known for their durability, even under extreme conditions, have long been a key tool in forensic investigations. Among the various indicators, dental wear is frequently used for age estimation when other biological markers are unavailable. In this study, we aimed to assess the effectiveness of dental wear for age estimation in the modern Indian population by applying Brothwell’s method. The total wear score was translated into an estimated age range based on the established correlation between dental wear and age as defined by the Brothwell chart. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted on a sample of 104 participants whose chronological ages were known, allowing for a comparison between their actual age and that estimated from dental wear. The participants were selected according to specific inclusion criteria. Archived occlusal surface photographs of the maxillary and mandibular molars were examined. Dental wear assessment was conducted using Brothwell’s 1981 chart as a standard reference. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the correlation between the estimated age from dental wear and the participants' chronological age as well as the accuracy of this method. Results: The mean chronological age of male participants was 35.11 years (±10.64), while for female participants, it was 34.96 years (±10.81). Males had a mean Brothwell score of 4.19 (±2.07), which was slightly lower than that of females with a mean score of 4.32 (±2.23). A strong association was found between the estimated Brothwell age group and chronological age group, as demonstrated by a statistically significant chi-square value (0.001*) and Cohen’s kappa of 0.64. Spearman's correlation analysis revealed a strong relationship between chronological age and Brothwell score, with a value of 0.97. The Mann-Whitney U test comparing dental wear scores between vegetarian and non-vegetarian participants revealed no significant differences. Conclusion: This study confirms the usefulness of Brothwell’s dental-wear method in forensic
age estimation, although it underscores the need for modifications when applied to modern populations. The moderate agreement between estimated and actual ages suggests that dental wear remains a valuable indicator, but factors such as modern dietary habits and dental care practices should be considered.
 

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