Bone Data And Dental Data Labeling For Forensic Age Estimation

To estimate and classify the Bone Age (BA) of a Portuguese population by applying the Greulich-Pyle (GP) method, using radiographs of the hand and wrist, and the Dental Age Assessment (DAA) of a Portuguese population by applying the (Moorrees, Funninng and Hunt) MFH using OPGs. 597 hand and wrist radiographs from both sexes were collected. In the 1st group each radiograph was compared with the Greulich and Pyle Radiographic Atlas to estimate age. In the 2nd group, 184 OPGs were collected from corresponding the sample of hand and wrist radiographs. The Moorrees, Funning, and Hunt (MFH) method was applied to the whole sample of OPGs, where each tooth in the third quadrant was classified, based on the development of the crown and root, according to the tables for single-rooted and multi-rooted teeth. Cohen’s weighted kappa ranged from 0.890 to 1. Both methods showed strong correlations with actual age (0.902 for bone, 0.894 for dental). Bone age assessment was most accurate at 14 and 18 years, with AUC highest at 12 and 14. DAA showed increasing sensitivity with age, though accuracy was highest at 12 years. Specificity peaked at 12 and 14, while reliability was lower at 18 years based on AUC values. BA method proved to be the most effective method for individuals under 12, 14, 16, and 18 years. However, combining both bone and dental methods enhances accuracy and consistency in age estimation, making it more reliable for medico-legal purposes.