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DENTAL AGE ESTIMATION USING THE RADIOGRAPHIC VISIBILITY OF PERIODONTAL LIGAMENT AROUND LOWER THIRD MOLARS AMONG
O I Opeodu1, O F Sigbeku1,2
1Department of Periodontology & Community Dentistry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan.
Annals of Ibadan Postgraduate Medicine
|May 6, 2024
Summary
Orthopantomograms (OPGs) can help estimate age by examining third molar development in Nigerians. This forensic odontology method shows potential for age determination, though combining it with other techniques may improve accuracy.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Odontology
- Radiographic Age Estimation
Background:
- Accurate age estimation is crucial for legal, migration, and sports contexts.
- Forensic odontology offers scientifically-backed methods for age determination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the utility of orthopantomograms (OPGs) for age estimation in a Nigerian population.
- To evaluate the radiographic visibility of the periodontal ligament of third molars for age prediction.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 202 OPGs.
- Assessment of periodontal ligament visibility in third molars using Olze et al. (2010) criteria.
- Calculation of individual ages based on birth and exposure dates.
Main Results:
- Radiographic visibility of the periodontal ligament generally increased with age, with some exceptions.
- Males showed earlier visibility stages than females, but females showed earlier later-stage visibility.
- Stages 1-3 of periodontal ligament visibility suggest an age of at least 17 years.
Conclusions:
- Periodontal ligament visibility on OPGs is a viable method for age prediction in Nigerians.
- This radiographic technique may require combination with other methods for precise forensic age estimation.
