14 4 Forensic dentistry
estimating age. The dentition is the only part of the skeleton that articulates
directly with the outside environment. Therefore, the variable effects of diet,
disease, traumatic insult, and accessory use are more apt to reduce the value
of teeth in determining age in individuals beyond the mid-third decade, and
in groups with chronically poor oral hygiene (who tend to appear older than
their actual chronological age). The sex and population membership of a dece-
dent must be determined before applying any aging technique because these
parameters significantly influence rates of development, necessitating recali-
bration of the result. The details of osteological aging techniques are beyond
the scope of this chapter and should be left to experienced practitioners.
A general approach to determination of age follows:
Fetal period: Estimation of fetal developmental age assumes forensic
importance in most jurisdictions because it is usually an indicator
of viability. In instances of criminal death of a pregnant individual
courts may decide whether to prosecute more than one homicide
depending upon the age (i.e., viability) of the fetus. Knowing the
age of a discovered fetus may also assist in matters of identifica-
tion. Usually, diaphyseal lengths may be used in various algorithms
to estimate crown–rump length, which may then be translated into
lunar age. The timing of appearance of primary and some secondary
ossification centers is also of use. Several sources give good accounts
of the statistical reliability of various bones and measurements for
both gross and radiographic fetal age determination.32,33
Birth to sixteen years: Dental eruption timing and sequence for decidu-
ous and adult dentition are reported elsewhere in this text. As noted,
dental and osteological age should correlate well within this develop-
mental interval. In recent years anthropologists and odontologists have
become increasingly aware of differences in rates of skeletal and dental
maturation among various populations,^34 and have begun to apply
adjustments to their age estimates accordingly.^35 Also see the dental
age estimation link at the University of Texas Health Science Center at
San Antonio’s Center for Education and Research in Forensics.^36
In this interval, anthropologists will make use of diaphyseal
lengths, appearance and attachment (fusion) of secondary ossification
centers, and the obliteration of some synchondroses.^37 Radiological
age standards have proved useful, especially for the hand and wrist,
from early childhood to late adolescence; however, these skeletal
components are among the first to be removed by scavengers and are
often unavailable.
Sixteen to thirty years: As attachment of primary and secondary ossifi-
cation centers occurs t hroughout t he skeleton, at tention turns to t he
completion of fusion of these centers. Numerous investigators have