Age estimation from teeth using modified Gustafson's method and cemental annulation lines - An in vitro study.

Dr. Ketaki Joshi; Dr. Syed Afroz Ahmed; Dr. Anjum Jeelani

Volume : VIII, Issue : III, March - 2019

Age estimation from teeth using modified Gustafson's method and cemental annulation lines - An in vitro study.

Dr. Ketaki Joshi, Dr. Syed Afroz Ahmed, Dr. Anjum Jeelani

Abstract :

Estimating age from teeth is reliable as they are preserved long after all the tissues and even bones have disintegrated. This resistance to decay has rendered teeth a useful tool for calculation of age.1,2 In this era, where DNA is used in forensics, conventional age estimation methods are still fruitful due to their ease and cost effectiveness. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the reliability of age estimation of an individual from teeth using Modified Gustafson�s method and cementum annulation lines. Age estimation was done using teeth of known age and sex. Ground sections were observed under light microscope and age estimation was done using two methods. It was observed that both methods were reliable as the estimated age was close to actual age. However, the former method was more accurate as it had less margin of error (�0.18 years) than the second (�0.21 years). Thus, these methods may be reliably employed in age estimation.