Dental age estimation among female commercial sex workers in Goa

Age estimation is a sub-discipline of the forensic sciences and an important part of every identification process, especially when information relating to the deceased is unavailable. In India, close to 3.5 million women work as commercial sex workers (CSW) of which 1.2 million are under aged.

To assess the dental and the skeletal age of rescued female CSWs with an intention of rehabilitation of the minors.

Dental age assessment of 32 rescued female CSWs with unknown age was done based on the radiographic analysis using regression equations derived in a Qualitative and Quantitative study by Dinkar A D. The skeletal age was assessed based on physical and radiological examination of the skeletal bones by Forensic experts.

It was observed that the estimated age of the CSWs ranged from 7 to 22 years out of which 22 cases (68.75%) were found to be below 18 years. When the dental and skeletal age was compared the maximum variation ranged between ± 12 months (1 year). Although the CSWs were found to be from different parts of India, maximum number of the cases (50%) was from Andhra Pradesh and one case (3.13%) was from Nepal.

Dental age assessment using qualitative and quantitative method given by Dinkar A D can be thought of a reliable method for dental age assessment as it didn't show much variation when compared to the skeletal age of the 32 CSWs. In the present study 68.75% of the females were minor which shows that the number of minors being trapped in the trade of prostitution is increasing. Rescuing and rehabilitation of these minors is of paramount importance.