Relationship between development of lower third molar on panoramic radiography and chronologic age

Abstract

In the past decade the number of unidentified cadavers and human remains as well as the number of remains lacking age documentation and therefore requiring age determination has increased. This requires age calculation, not only for differentiating the juvenile from the adult ststus in criminal law cases, but especially when determining the age of a crime victimand also for estimating chronologic age in relation to school attendance, social benefits, employment, and marriage. many studies have been carried out about the relationship between third molar development and chronological age, bacause this teeth is variable, the results of the studies are different. objective: to investigate the relationship between chronologic age and maturity of lower third molar based on Demirjian method. materials and methods: 435 panoramic radiography of patients referred to department of oral radiology, Tabriz dental faculty were assessed (261 female, 174 male, mean age=14.21). the maturity of lower third molar was determined according to Demirjian method. Regression analysis was performed to obtain regression formula for calculating chronologic age. Results: third molar calcification was attained earlier in females than males. Statistical analysis showed a strong correlation between age and maturity of third molar for males (r2=0/85) and for females (r2=0/87). Conclusion: the use of third molar as a development marker is appropriate and can be used for age determination. however for accurate determination, another methods such as evaluation of skeletal status of the person should be considered.