Age estimation by third molar mineralization analysis through panoramic radiographies.

• Grant number: 09/17117-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2010
• End date: February 28, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry
• Principal Investigator: Ricardo Henrique Alves da Silva
• Grantee: Letícia Oliveira Tonin
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto (FORP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Human identification is one of the areas of Legal Medicine and Forensic Dentistry best known due to the great media exposure when in mass casualties. The estimated age is part of the human identification and has fundamental role, alive or dead, regardless of the body state. The Legal Medicine has methods commonly used for age determination and the analysis of skeletal maturity by hand and wrist radiographic examination, and Forensic Dentistry has the chronological teeth eruption. However, both methods can be limited to estimate over 18 years old. In this way, the estimation of age by the teeth, specifically the analysis of mineralization stages of third molars, has some advantages. This study aims to show the applicability of mineralization stages of third molars in the age estimative in individuals between 9 and 21 years old, from a collection composed by n=1200 ortopantomographic radiographs, in order to develop regional tables and establish the patterns inherent in each region.