A. Olze

Comparative study on the effect of ethnicity on wisdom tooth eruption

The current knowledge base for evaluating the influence of ethnic origin on wisdom tooth eruption is still inadequate. We therefore analyzed and compared the chronology of wisdom tooth eruption in three ethnic populations—German, Japanese, and black South African—based on evidence from 2,482 conventional orthopantomograms. The investigated German population ranked in the middle in terms of the age of wisdom tooth eruption. The black South African population was the fastest and the Japanese population the slowest in terms of reaching the respective eruption stages. Population-specific reference data should be used when evaluating wisdom tooth eruption for the purpose of forensic age estimation.

Forensic age diagnostics of living individuals in criminal proceedings

Age estimations of living individuals are increasingly important in criminal matters. If doubts arise regarding the age of a person suspected of a criminal offense, forensic age estimation is prompted by the need to ascertain whether the person concerned has reached the age of criminal responsibility and whether general criminal law in force for older juveniles or adults is to be applied. According to the recommendations of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Forensische Altersdiagnostik (study group for forensic age diagnostics), age estimates in criminal proceedings should be based on the general physical examination, the X-ray examination of the hand and the odontological examination by a dentist, including dental status and orthopantomogram. In order to improve diagnostic reliability, these methods should always be used in combination, ensuring that each part is performed by forensically trained and experienced experts of the relevant disciplines. In order to demonstrate that the proband has reached the age of 21, an additional X-ray examination or CT scan of the clavicles is recommended. Future research projects should assess the variation for a combination of the above methods, quantify the impact of socio-economic status and ethnicity on the examined development systems and review the suitability of non-ionizing imaging methods of age estimation.

Studies of the Chronological Course of Wisdom Tooth Eruption in a Black African Population

The importance of forensic age estimation in living subjects has grown over the last few years. In dental age estimation, tooth eruption is a parameter of developmental morphology that can be analyzed by either clinical examination or by evaluation of dental X‐rays. In the present study, we determined the stage of wisdom tooth eruption in 410 male and 106 female Black South African subjects of known age (12–26 years) based on radiological evidence from 516 conventional orthopantomograms. Four eruption stages were determined (no emergence, alveolar emergence, gingival emergence, complete emergence). Statistical scores were determined for the individual stages separately for both sexes. The data presented here can be utilized for forensic estimation of the minimum and most probable ages of investigated persons.

Studies of the chronological course of wisdom tooth eruption in a German population

Forensic age estimation in living subjects has gained increasing significance in recent years. In dental age estimation, tooth eruption is a parameter of developmental morphology that can be analyzed by either clinical examination or by evaluation of dental X-rays. In the present study, we determined the stage of wisdom tooth eruption in 144 male and 522 female German subjects aged 12-26 years based on radiological evidence from 666 conventional orthopantomograms. The results presented here provide useful data on the age of alveolar, gingival, and complete emergence of the third molars in the occlusal plane that can be utilized for the forensic estimation of the minimum and most probable ages of individuals under investigation.

The chronology of the radiographic visibility of the periodontal ligament and the root pulp in the lower third molars

Eruption and mineralization of third molars are the main criteria for dental age estimation in living adolescents. As the validation of completion of the 18th year of life appears not to be possible with the forensically necessary probability even if all the third molars of a person are completely mineralized, degenerative dental characteristics might be used for this purpose. In previous publications by Olze et al. (2010a,b) the radiographic visibility of the periodontal ligament and the root pulp in lower third molars were suggested as methods for this purpose. The aim of this study was to validate these characteristics in a large study population with a wide age range. In a material of 2346 orthopantomograms of 1167 female and 1179 male Germans aged from 15 to 70years the radiographic visibility of the root pulp in the lower third molars with completed mineralization were studied according to stage classifications proposed by Olze et al. (2010a,b). 1541 orthopantomograms of 705 females and 836 males with a sufficient quality of the radiograph showed at least one third molar. The suitability of the studied characteristics for age estimation in living individuals could be confirmed. Males and females presenting stage 1 of both characteristics were older than 18years of life. Males and females presenting stage 2 of both characteristics were older than 21years of life. The high number of missing third molars in the studied age group (46-60%) must be considered as a limitation of the methods. In further studies the influence of ethnicity, dietary habits and modern dental health care on the characteristics in question should be investigated.

Der Transilluminator: Ein Gert zur Messung der Wurzeldentintransparenz

ZusammenfassungMit der Wurzeldentintransparenzmethode sind insbesondere im mittleren Lebensalter gute Altersdiagnosen im Rahmen der Identifizierung unbekannter Leichen möglich. Der große Vorteil der Methode liegt im geringen Zeit- und Kostenaufwand sowie in der einfachen Handhabung. Zur Erreichung optimaler Schätzergebnisse sind jedoch bestimmte Voraussetzungen zu erfüllen. So sollte zur Darstellung und zur Messung der Transparenzzone ein geeignetes Gerät eingesetzt werden. Am Institut für Rechtsmedizin der Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin hat sich ein zu diesem Zweck konstruierter Transilluminator bewährt. Die inzwischen dritte Generation des Geräts wird ausführlich vorgestellt. Das aktuelle Modell wurde zur Erhöhung der Betriebssicherheit mit einem Thermoschalter ausgestattet. Unter der Leuchtfläche wurde ein Schacht eingebaut, in den sich bei Bedarf ein Farbfilter einsetzen lässt. Die Deckfläche des Gehäuses wurde mit einer chemisch-resistenten Folie überzogen. Auf weitere Fehlerquellen bei der Anwendung der Wurzeldentintransparenzmethode wird hingewiesen.AbstractThe root dentin transparency technique is a method for estimating age when identifying unknown corpses. It produces good results especially in the middle age group. The great benefit of the method is that it requires little time and money and is easy to apply. In order to obtain optimal estimates, certain requirements have to be met. For example, adequate equipment should be used to make visible and measure the transparency zone. A transilluminator especially designed for this purpose has been used successfully at the Institute of Legal Medicine at Charité teaching hospital in Berlin. This article contains a detailed description of the third generation of this device. The current model is equipped with a thermo-switch to improve operational safety. To allow use of a colour filter, a shaft was integrated underneath the illuminating area and the casing was covered with a chemically resistent foil. In addition, the article draws attention to further sources of error when applying the root dentin transparency technique.