The chronology of second molar development in Brazilians and its application to forensic age estimation

Demirjian's method is based on eight stages of tooth cal- cification ranging from crown and root formation to apex closure of the seven left permanent mandibular teeth. The score of each stage is allocated, and the sum of the scores gives an evaluation of the subject's dental maturity. These scores can be converted into a dental age by means of avail- able tables and percentile curves from the original study. The difference between the dental and chronological age indicates an advancement or delay in dental maturity. 6 Estimating dental maturity according to percentile charts has been shown to be more suitable in determining whether ABSTRACT Purpose: This study investigated the possible correlation between the mineralization of the second molars and the chronological age of a sample population of the state of Paraiba, Brazil. Materials and Methods: One thousand eight hundred fifty-four digitized panoramic images using a scanner of a private dental radiology service were obtained in six months. Of these, 457 were selected from patients aged 4.6 to 16 years who met certain criteria. The images were assessed twice by a radiologist with 5 years experience. A minimum interval of 30 days between the evaluations of the same patient was established. To analyze the relationship between chronological age, calcification level proposed by Demirjian et al in 1973, gender, and tooth, a multiple linear regression model was adjusted, taking age as the response variable (p⁄0.05). Results: The gender and calcification level were significantly correlated with the age of the patients (p⁄0.05). There was a significant difference between the average age of the patients' upper teeth compared to the lower ones in both genders (p⁄0.05). The dental development occurred earlier in female individuals than in male ones, and there was no significant difference between the right and left second permanent molars. Conclusion: It was observed that ethnic variables are related to certain parameters of age and sex identification in the Brazilian population, providing important information for forensic evaluations. (Imaging Sci Dent 2013; 43 : 1-6)