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Martín-Martín J, Santos I, Gaitán-Arroyo MJ, Suarez J, Rubio L, Martín-de-Las-Heras S. Dental color measurement to estimate age in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2024:10.1007/s12024-024-00798-4. [PMID: 38459359 DOI: 10.1007/s12024-024-00798-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Age estimation is a major challenge in anthropology and forensic odontology laboratories, as well as in judicial settings, as one of the tools used in human identification. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of age estimation methods based on the accurate measurement of tooth color changes. A systematic review was carried out following the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and in compliance with Cochrane criteria recommendations (PROSPERO registration number CRD 42022343371). An electronic search was performed in the following databases: Pubmed, Web of Science, Medline, Current Contents Connect, SciELO, KCI-Korean Journal Database, Derwent Innovations Index and Russian Citation Index. The search strategy yielded a total of 18 articles. A randomized meta-analysis model of the results for the CIE L*a*b* color variables stratified by age (less than 30 years, 30-60 years, 60 years and older) was performed with 9 of the 18 studies included in this systematic review. According to our results, sex and location of color measurement are the most influential factors in color estimation. All studies were carried out in healthy anterior teeth by spectrophotometry as the most commonly used method for color measurement, with CIE L*a*b* being the most commonly analyzed parameters. Studies based on age as a dependent variable showed R2 values between 0.28 and 0.56, being higher in ex vivo teeth. Studies based on age as an independent variable showed R2 values ranging from 0.10 to 0.48. The random model showed high heterogeneity for the L*, a* and b* parameters in all age groups, which is explained by discrepancies in age range and non-standardized conditions for color measurement. This systematic review highlights the need to protocolize age estimation studies that measure tooth color, in order to apply this method in different forensic settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Martín-Martín
- Area of Legal and Forensic Medicine. Department of Human Anatomy, Legal Medicine and History of Science, University of Malaga, Bulevar Louis Pasteur 32, 29071, Malaga, Spain
- Biomedical Research Institute of Malaga (IBIMA), Malaga, Spain
| | - Ignacio Santos
- Area of Legal and Forensic Medicine. Department of Human Anatomy, Legal Medicine and History of Science, University of Malaga, Bulevar Louis Pasteur 32, 29071, Malaga, Spain
- Biomedical Research Institute of Malaga (IBIMA), Malaga, Spain
| | - María J Gaitán-Arroyo
- Area of Legal and Forensic Medicine. Department of Human Anatomy, Legal Medicine and History of Science, University of Malaga, Bulevar Louis Pasteur 32, 29071, Malaga, Spain
- Biomedical Research Institute of Malaga (IBIMA), Malaga, Spain
| | - Juan Suarez
- Area of Legal and Forensic Medicine. Department of Human Anatomy, Legal Medicine and History of Science, University of Malaga, Bulevar Louis Pasteur 32, 29071, Malaga, Spain
- Biomedical Research Institute of Malaga (IBIMA), Malaga, Spain
| | - Leticia Rubio
- Area of Legal and Forensic Medicine. Department of Human Anatomy, Legal Medicine and History of Science, University of Malaga, Bulevar Louis Pasteur 32, 29071, Malaga, Spain.
- Biomedical Research Institute of Malaga (IBIMA), Malaga, Spain.
| | - Stella Martín-de-Las-Heras
- Area of Legal and Forensic Medicine. Department of Human Anatomy, Legal Medicine and History of Science, University of Malaga, Bulevar Louis Pasteur 32, 29071, Malaga, Spain
- Biomedical Research Institute of Malaga (IBIMA), Malaga, Spain
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Chandler S, Sudi SM, Bailie KC, Chetty M. The challenge of unidentified decedents in Africa: The need for training and research in forensic odontology to strengthen a multidisciplinary approach. Front Oral Health 2022; 3:1017736. [PMID: 36225817 PMCID: PMC9549165 DOI: 10.3389/froh.2022.1017736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The management of unidentified decedents suspected to be undocumented migrants is a growing humanitarian crisis in Africa. Identification of the dead and the right of the family to know the fate of a decedent is a fundamental human right. Forensic odontology methods can provide helpful and assisting information in the identification even in challenging low-resource settings. South Africa and other countries that are part of significant migration routes face the problem of unidentified decedents. Discussion The fundamental application of forensic odontology relies on the availability of good antemortem dental records. The state of dental records was reported to be suboptimal in South Africa and other African countries. Incorporating forensic odontology into the undergraduate training in the 23 dental schools in Africa will increase the understanding of the value of maintaining accurate dental records and potentially facilitate collaboration with dentists and forensic odontologists in cases where dental features can be used for identification. South Africa offers postgraduate training in forensic odontology, and prospects for research in Africa need to be explored. Conclusion The development of a forensic odontology career path and research prospects will provide African countries with the potential for building multidisciplinary teams to assist in solving the challenge of unidentified decedents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Chandler
- Faculty of Dentistry, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa
- Correspondence: Susan Chandler Stephen M. Sudi
| | - Stephen M. Sudi
- Faculty of Dentistry, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa
- Correspondence: Susan Chandler Stephen M. Sudi
| | - Keané C. Bailie
- Faculty of Dentistry, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Manogari Chetty
- Faculty of Dentistry, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa
- University of the Western Cape/ University of Cape Town Combined Dental Genetics Clinic, Red Cross Children’s Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
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