Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology

  • Year: 2013
  • Volume: 7
  • Issue: 1

Estimation of Age of Indian Adolescents by Radiographic Study of Mandibular Third Molar

  • Author:
  • Ashutosh H Meshram1,, Chandrakant R Dode2, Dhaneshwar N Lanjewar3
  • Total Page Count: 34
  • Page Number: 254 to 287

1Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, Grant Government Medical College and Sir J J Hospital, Mumbai, India

2Vice Dean, Professor and Head, Department of Forensic Medicine, Grant Government Medical College and Sir J J Hospital, Mumbai, India

3Professor in Pathology, Grant Government Medical College and Sir J J Hospital, Mumbai, India

*Corresponding author: Ashutosh Harshwardhan Meshram, Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, Grant Government Medical College and Sir J J Hospital, Mumbai, India. (M) 09773194401, (Fax) 02223735599, Email: dr_ashumeshram1978@yahoo.co.in

Online published on 21 February, 2013.

Abstract

Determination of age is important in Medico legal work such as marriage contract, rape, kidnapping, abetment of suicide, selling the minor female for prostitution, eligibility for employment and judicial punishment. This study was carried out in adolescent to estimate the age by studying the growth and development of third molar including the closure of root apex by radiographic examination of mandibular third molar was carried out in two phases. In phase I, 100 adolescents between 15 and 20 years whose document of authentic age was available were included while in phase II, 40 adolescents of unknown age were included and both the phases were categorized as group I:15 to 16 years, group II:16 to 17 years, group III:17 to 18 years, group IV:18 to 19 years and group V: 19 to 20 years. In both the phases radiographs of mandibular second and third molar were obtained additionally in phase II, xray of wrist, elbow and pelvis were obtained.

Our study showed that crown formation was completed in 15 years, formation of 1/3rd root completed in 16 years, formation of 2/3rd root completed in 17 years, formation of complete root with open apical foramen in 18 years and formation of complete root with closed apical foramen in 19 years. This method of age determination appears to be more accurate.

Keywords

Age Determination, Molar Radiographs, Wrist, Elbow, Pelvis