Panoramic study of third molar eruption for chronologic age assessment in Iraqi population

Abstract

Background: Age estimation plays a great role in forensic investigations,orthodontic, surgical treatment planning and tooth transplantation. The teeth areconsidered a reliable indicator of age and provide a number of parameters for ageprediction. The purpose of this study was to estimate the chronological age basedon the stages of mandibular third-molar eruption following the four stages givenby Olze et al.Materials and methods: The sample consist of 150 Iraqi subjects have been chosenwith known chronologic age (range: 6–26 years) and gender (70 males and 80female), digital panoramic radiograph had been taken for each examined subject .Olze et al. stages has been used to assess third molar eruption.Results: Alveolar and occlusal eruption at 25% of males younger than females . Ttestbetween gender for minimum age was statistically significant difference onlyin stage (B) with p-value (0.042).The deviation around normal value mean incomplete occlusal eruption was more in female compared with male.Conclusions: Radiographic evaluation of eruption stages of the third molars usingdental panoramic radiographies can be an efficient tool for chronological ageestimation in both forensic science and legal medicine. Complete occlusaleruption can be used to predict age equal or superior to 16 years.