An Analysis of Age Estimation Cases Based on Teeth

치아에 의한 생체 연령감정 사례의 분석

We collected age determination cases which were done at Yonsei university dental hospital, department of oral medicine from 1976 to 1999 to analyze it's tendency among Koreans. We analyzed 435 clients cases which were stored by age estimation program from January 1993 to December 1999. The results are as follows: 1. There were no significant difference in the sexual distribution (male : 52.0%, female : 48.0%) and more than half percent (51%) were 20's and 30's. 2. Among the age determination clients, those who wanted to decrease their age (50.3%) and those who wanted to increase their age (49.7%) shows similar in number. And the former case were predominant in the female clients, but the latter case in the male clients. Also the clients below six years of age were predominant in the former case, but the clients more than sixty were predominant in the latter case. 3. The purposes of age correction showed different distribution for ages: job or employment for 20's and 30's, marriage for 20's, registration for school for below six, welfare and other social services for 50 and older. 4. Age was estimated by Nolla's growth stage for 12 and under, calcification of the second and third molar for 12~20, and for 20 and over, Takei's tooth abrasion model was used. 5. The alleged age was in accordance with the documents and other information given by clients, but in the 20.6% of the estimation cases, the alleged age was discarded. In the results of the analysis of age determination cases in Koreans, many of the cases resulted from our historical turbulence and social distinctiveness, causing an increase in the necessity for age correction in each age group. For more accurate determination for each age group, further studies with Koreans must be done continuously.