Yetişkin Türk Popülasyonu Için Yaş Belirlemede Iki Farkli Metodun Uygulanabilirliklerinin Panoramik Görüntülerde Incelenmesi

Abstract

Age estimation is a complex and important issue in forensic sciences. Teeth, being one of the toughest and most durable tissues in the living organisms and being able to preserve their morphology longer compared to other organs, have brought a new perspective to age estimation studies. In addition, teeth have low metabolism characteristics, and the information obtained from tooth development leads to most accurate results with respect to other structures in organisms, which have both become important factors in the development of forensic odontology. One of the current methods for dental age estimation in adults is the investigation of secondary dentine deposition. Radiological measurement of secondary dentine deposition is among the simple, reliable and economical methods applied in forensic sciences. In the literature, Drusini's and Cameriere's methods are often the preferred methods for estimation of age. These methods are specific to the community for which they are developed, therefore it is advised that the applicability of these methods to other communities should be investigated. The aim of this study is to investigate the applicability of Drusini's and Cameriere's methods to the Turkish population and to determine the most effective method. Cameriere's and Drusini's methods were applied to the panoramic images of hundred adult patients and the necessary measurements were made with the ImageJ program. The pulp/tooth area ratio of the canines were determined as in Cameriere's method. Tooth coronal indexes of the lower premolar and molar teeth were obtained according to Drusini's method. The correlations of our results with age were evaluated and a Turkish community specific regression model was obtained by Cameriere's method. However, Drusini's method was assessed that it is not statistically applicable to the Turkish population. We think that the derived regression model can be used in conjunction with other methods in criminal cases and at the same time it is also an important step for further studies.