1Forensic Medicine Research Center, Forensic Center of Hormozgan Province, Bandar Abbas, Iran
2Forensic Medicine Specialist, Forensic Center of Hormozgan Province, Bandar Abbas, Iran
3Assistant Professor of Forensic Medicine, Iran University of Medical Science,Tehran,Iran
4DDS, Forensic Center of Hormozgan Province, Bandar Abbas, Iran
5DDS, Forensic Center of Hormozgan Province, Bandar Abbas, Iran
6MD, Forensic Center of Hormozgan Province, Bandar Abbas, Iran
7MD, Forensic Center of Hormozgan Province, Bandar Abbas, Iran
*Email: drsm1980@gmail.com
Background: No literature is available on the relationship between third molar developmental stages and age estimation among Iranian population, thus we aimed to measure the time course of third molar eruption and stages in Iranian children and young adults. Because this issue can be very useful in legal medicine field, we examined the people who referred to legal medicine centers because of the various injuries.
Methods: A total of 243 dental victims aged 14 to 24 years who consecutively referred to examination department of the General Directorate of Forensic Medicine in Bandar-e-Abbas city in Iran between March 2014 and March 2016 were assessed. All subjects were examined regarding third molar eruption and stages based on orthopantomogram and dental age were assessed based on the method proposed by Demirjian.
Results: Men reported lower mean age in most of developmental stages as compared to women (F and G stage in superior side and F stage in inferior side). Comparing the mean values the age in obese and non-obese individuals at different developmental stages of third molar teeth showed no difference. There were significant positive correlation coefficients between different variables particularly between contralateral molars than antimeres. The highest correlation coefficient was found between lower right and lower left third molars (r=0.918). The strongest correlation coefficient was found between upper right and upper left third molars (r=0.949) in men and between lower right and lower left third molars (r=0.939) in women. Considering only the fully developed third molar teeth status (stage H) showed higher number of fully developed third molar in men than in women as well as in obese than in non-obese subjects in all sides.
Conclusion: Our study indicates a significant earlier third molar development in men than in women only in relation to developmental F and G stages of maxillary molars and F stage of mandibular molar, but this difference is not shown in fully (H) developmental stage. The association between third molar developmental stage and chronological age may be independent to body mass index and obesity status.
3rd Molar teeth, Demirjian, Forensic, Odontology
