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. 2020 Sep 30;38(2):2-11.

Age estimation in north east Brazilians by measurement of open apices

L Gonçalves do Nascimento  1 , R L Ribeiro Tinoco  2 , A P Lacerda Protasio  3 , I L Arrais Ribeiro  4 , B Marques Santiago  1 , R Cameriere  5
Affiliations

Age estimation in north east Brazilians by measurement of open apices

L Gonçalves do Nascimento et al. J Forensic Odontostomatol. .

Abstract

Dental age (DA) estimation is an extensively investigated resource used by forensic science. This study aimed to evaluate the applicability of the Measurement of Open Apices for DA estimation in north east Brazilians. A total of 429 orthopantomographs of individuals aged 5 to 14.99 years were used. The sample was distributed according to the age groups 5-6.99, 7-8.99, 9-10.99, 11-12.99 and 13-14.99 years, and the data were analyzed descriptively and by linear regression (α= 5%). The majority of the radiographs were from females (n = 241; 56.2%), with an overall mean age of 12 years (± 2.12). A significant difference was observed between DA and chronological age (CA) in the total sample and specifically in females and males. The method underestimated CA by 0.31 year (total sample) and by 0.3 and 0.32 year in females and males, respectively. In contrast, the method overestimated CA in the groups 5-6.99 and 7-8.99 years, with a mean difference (MD) of 0.48 year (p = 0.007) and 0.17 year (p = 0.182), respectively. In the other groups, DA was predicted to be below CA, with a significant difference in the group 13-14.99 (0.75 year). Based on the regression analysis, a correction factor was proposed from the original formula for this population, thereby reaching a predictive power of approximately 80%. To conclude, this method is applicable to the study population aged 5 to 13 years as the estimates obtained did not exceed the error limit of ±1 year.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mean differences between the dental and chronological ages expressed in years
Figure 2
Figure 2
Graphical representation of the assumptions (homoscedasticity, normality and linearity) for correction factors generated for both sexes, and specifically for females and males
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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