Age estimation using mandibular dimensions: a preliminary study

Abstract

Age estimation alongside determination of sex, height, and ancestry is of utmost importance for an accurate identification of the victim in forensic cases. On the other hand, reliable age estimation in living individuals is of significance in both judicial and ethical terms, especially with regard to the evaluation of criminal liability, and is becoming increasingly important as a result of rapid increase in immigration movements in the global scale. Most studies related to age estimation so far have investigated degenerations or developmental process of either tooth or skeletal system. Our aim in this preliminary study is to calculate regression equations to be used in age estimation using mandible size in children aged 18 or below and to evaluate its reliability. We evaluated 140 cephalometric images from patients with skeletal Class I closure. All images were obtained from the archive of Başkent University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Orthodontics. In every image, seven anthropometric measurements were performed: gonion-menton (Go-Me), gonion-gnathion, (Go-Gn) condylion-gonion (Co-Go), condylion-gnathion (Co-Gn), gonial angle, SNA, SNB, and ANB. The last three parameters were used to determine whether the skeletal development of maxilla and mandible were within normal limits, and not included in equations for age estimation. Statistical analysis results revealed that the distance from condylion to gnathion showed the highest level of correlation with age (71.3%) (P<0.001), and this parameter was the only parameter included in the model (R2 = 0.508). As a conclusion, although it showed statistically significant correlation with chronological age, it can be said that the equation based on the aforementioned parameter is not sufficiently reliable for age estimation. 

Keywords

• Age estimation,mandible,forensic anthropology

References

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