Age Estimation from Attrition of Permanent Molars

  • Nuwadatta Subedi Gandaki Medical College Teaching Hospital and Research Center Pvt Ltd, Gandaki Province, Pokhara, Nepal
  • Mukesh Mallik College of Medical Sciences, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Bagmati Province, Nepal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9192-7404
  • Roshan Kumar Chaudhary Forensic Odontology and Research Department, Madan Bhandari Academy of Health Sciences, Hetauda, Bagamati province, Nepal
  • Gita Gurung Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, College of Dental Surgery, Gandaki Medical College Teaching Hospital and Research Center Pvt Ltd, Gandaki Province, Pokhara, Nepal
DOI: https://doi.org/10.33314/jnhrc.v19i1.3397

Abstract

Background: The average stage of attrition in permanent first and second molars is an established method of age estimation in the adult population. The study was conducted with an objective of age estimation from the average stage of attrition of permanent molars.
Methods: A total of 451 individuals of age more than 20 years were examined. Nepalese individuals with intact first and second permanent molars in the maxillary and mandibular arch on either side were included. The average stage of attrition of the maxillary first and second permanent molars on either side was calculated and subjected to regression analysis to derive equations.
Results: Among a total of 451 participants, 231 (51.22%) were females and 220 (48.78%) males, with a mean age of 44.3 ± 13.9 years. There was a strong correlation between age and average stage of attrition of molars. The correlation was stronger for upper molars compared to the lowers. Additionally, the mean of the difference between real age and estimated age was lower for maxillary compared to mandibular molars. Compared to age estimation by univariable regression, multivariable regression had greater accuracy. Similarly, estimation of age from maxillary molars was more accurate as compared to mandibular (difference in years: 3.82 ± 3.03 for maxillary molars and 5.17 ± 4.2 for mandibular molars).
Conclusions: Maxillary teeth are better for age estimation and using both maxillary first and second permanent molars gives better accuracy.
Keywords: Age estimation by teeth; age reporting; forensic anthropology; forensic dentistry; tooth attrition

Published
2021-04-23
How to Cite
SubediN., MallikM., ChaudharyR. K., & GurungG. (2021). Age Estimation from Attrition of Permanent Molars. Journal of Nepal Health Research Council, 19(1), 101-106. https://doi.org/10.33314/jnhrc.v19i1.3397
Issue
Vol. 19 No. 1 (2021): Vol. 19 No. 1 Issue 50 Jan-Mar 2021
Section
Original Article

Copyright (c) 2021 Nuwadatta Subedi, Mukesh Mallik, Roshan Chaudhary, Gita Gurung

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