Limits of the Lamendin method in age determination

Area of Science:

• Forensic Odontology
• Anthropology
• Gerodontology

Background:

• Accurate age estimation is crucial in forensic and anthropological contexts.
• Lamendin's method is a widely used technique for dental age assessment.
• Periodontal disease can potentially affect the reliability of certain age estimation criteria.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the reliability of epithelial attachment level as an age determination criterion in Lamendin's method for adults.
• To assess the impact of periodontal disease on age estimation using epithelial attachment level.
• To confirm the validity of dentin translucency as an age indicator in Lamendin's method.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of epithelial attachment level in adult teeth.
• Comparison of estimated age with chronological age in individuals with and without periodontal disease.
• Evaluation of dentin translucency as an age indicator.

Main Results:

• Epithelial attachment level is unreliable for age estimation in adults over 49 with periodontal disease.
• Age underestimation using epithelial attachment level increases with chronological age (7-19 years).
• Dentin translucency remains a pertinent and reliable indicator for age estimation in Lamendin's method.

Conclusions:

• Epithelial attachment level should not be used for age estimation in adults over 49, especially those with periodontal disease.
• Dentin translucency is a reliable component of Lamendin's method for dental age assessment.
• Further research may refine age estimation techniques considering dental pathologies.