Studies on the chronology of third molar mineralization in First Nations people of Canada

Forensic age estimation of living subjects has become increasingly important in recent years. One main criterion for dental age estimation in the relevant age group is the evaluation of third molar mineralization. In the present study, we determined the stages of third molar mineralization in 347 female and 258 male First Nations people of Canada aged 11 to 29 years based on radiological evidence from 605 conventional orthopantomograms. The results presented here provide useful data on the mineralization stages of third molars that can be used for forensic estimation of the minimum and most probable ages including the range of scatter of investigated persons.