Year : 2015

Volume : Volume 5

Issue : Issue 1

Address for correspondence :
Dr. R Lakshmi Sravya
lakshmir@gmail.com

Abstract

Background:  Identification of the living person and the dead is of paramount importance for variety of reasons in forensic practice routinely. Age estimation is one of the prime factors employed to establish identity. Estimating age from teeth is generally reliable as they are naturally preserved long after all the tissues and bones have disintegrated.  Method: A study was done to compare the chronological age with that of the dental age. Dental age was assessed by taking intraoral periapical radiographs of the right and left mandibular third molars, adopting the Leif Kullman et al method. 151 males and 152 female subjects were included in the study of the age ranging from 15.1-25yrs.The subjects were radiographically examined for the different stages of the root development of the third molars  Results: A strong correlation coefficient was seen between the chronological age and mandibular third molars (0.856 with 38, 0.847 with 48, P<0.001). Conclusion: The study showed a positive correlation between the chronological (true) age and the dental age. The use of third molars as a developmental marker is appropriate.

Keywords: Dental age, Kullman’s method, Age estimation.