Indian Journal of Forensic Odontology

The historical development of age estimation and the different techniques are presented. Also it is important to separate individuals below 18 years where tooth development can be used and those above 20 years of age where regressive changes must be used and where the visual assessment may be more important. Suggestions for new recommendations are presented. Finally the Indian dental age estimation project of BR in Northan Indian who claim to be below 18 years of age is described.

Keywords: Age estimation; Quality assurance, Project

Objective: To examine the possible application of pulp/tooth area ratio of canine in Intra Oral Periapical X-ray using RVG for estimation of age of an individual.Material and Method: 25 Individuals aged between 18 to 27years, with apparently normal canine were included in the present study. Radiovisuographic images of canine of upper and lower jaws were obtained. These images will be then transformed to CAD2007 software from which area of pulp/tooth ratio will be calculated with the help of 10 points from each tooth outline and 5 points for each pulp outline. By using regressive formula the age was calculated.Results: The estimated age using maxillary canine (x1) showed no statistically significant difference between the estimated age and the real age (p=0.1) which means that there is little difference between real age and estimated age. So, it is feasible to estimate age using Pulp to tooth area ratio of maxillary canine.

Key words: Age Estimation, Radiographs, Canine

Estimation of age is one of the perplexing problems faced by forensic experts and anthropologists. Changes in the size of pulp canal caused by apposition of secondary dentin as a person ages is one of the parameters employed in age estimation by X-rays. Radiographic method scores over the other methods because it is non-invasive, inexpensive and easily accomplished. This study measured the Pulp/tooth ratio mesiodistally of the maxillary lateral incisor radiographically. The model explained 74.1% of total variance.

Key Words: Maxillary Lateral Incisor, Pulp/Tooth Ratio, Radiograph, Mesiodistal Dimension

In the present study an attempt has been made to explore the correlation between stature, and the two facial measurements, i.e. nasal height and ear length among the male and female Rajputs of Himachal Pradesh. Secondly to observe if these facial measurements could be used to reconstruct stature, under the circumstances when only head of an individual is recovered from a remote area and the complete identity is not possible through visual examination. A total of 165 Rajputs (89males and 76 females) in the range from 20 to 40 years were measured for the nasal height and ear length besides stature in accordance with the standard measurement technique (Martin and Saller, 1959). Analysis of data reveals that males have significantly taller with longer nose and ear than the females Both nasal height and ear length have a relatively low correlation with stature for either sex .Ear length among males exhibit greater correlation than the nasal height while among females nasal height exhibits higher correlation than the nasal height. However the error of estimate is greater for both the measurements with females exhibiting lesser error than the males.

Identifying human remains by dental characteristics is a well-established component of forensic science with a definite scientific basis. A turning point has been reached in the history of forensic dentistry, and this may be due mainly to the greatly intensified international traffic, in the air or at sea. Up to a hundred individuals may now lose their lives at the same time, and, furthermore, these accidents leave behind them bodies that are mutilated to a degree previously unknown. In such cases, the only remains still recognizable may be the teeth or dental restorations, because these are more resistant to fire and water than other parts of the body or personal belongings. From Orthodontic point of view, we can help the forensic team in some respects by putting identification marks on Removable, Functional and Fixed Appliances so that it would be easy for the team to identify the dead bodies. Identification marks can be put in the form of Strip marking, Bar coding etc.

Keywords: Forensic Odontology, Strip marking, Bar coding.

Age estimation in children is important in clinical as well as forensic dentistry. The orthopantomograph samples of  50 healthy children (25boys: 25girls) aged between 5-15 years was selected and Cameriere regression equation was applied. We observed underestimation of estimated age in boys and overestimation in girls as compared to their chronological age.

Keywords: Forensic dentistry, Cameriere regression equation, Haryana population OPG, Age estimation.