Body Height Estimation According to Deciduous Dental Crown Height in a Peruvian Sample of Preschool Children

Area of Science:

• Forensic Anthropology
• Odontology
• Pediatric Growth Studies

Background:

• Odontometry and body height are crucial biological markers for individual identification.
• The relationship between tooth dimensions and stature is of significant interest in forensic science.
• Deciduous teeth offer a unique developmental window for such investigations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the body height of Peruvian preschool children based on the crown height of their deciduous teeth.
• To explore the correlation between odontometric measurements and body height in a specific pediatric population.
• To assess the potential of deciduous teeth for forensic human identification.

Main Methods:

• An analytical study involving 204 preschoolers aged 3-5 years.
• Measurement of body height using a stadiometer and deciduous tooth crown height (canine to canine) using a digital vernier caliper.
• Application of linear regression models to predict body height from tooth crown height, with significance assessed at P < 0.05.

Main Results:

• No overall correlation between body height and deciduous tooth crown height was found in the total sample.
• A moderate correlation was observed in a 3-year-old female (tooth #52), and low correlations in a 5-year-old female (teeth #53, #63).
• Significant regression models predicted height with 13%-18% accuracy for specific age and sex groups, with prediction errors ranging from 1.85 cm to 4.63 cm.

Conclusions:

• The odontometry method using deciduous tooth crown height can estimate body height in Peruvian girls aged 3 and 5 years.
• Deciduous teeth, due to their resistance to trauma, can serve as a valuable parameter for estimating body height in forensic identification cases.
• This study highlights the potential utility of odontometry in forensic contexts, particularly for estimating stature in young individuals.