Assessing the probability of having attained 16 years of age in juveniles using third molar development in a sample of South Indian population

Abstract

Juvenile crime or delinquency has been increasing at an alarming rate in recent times. In many countries, including India, the minimum age for criminal responsibility is 16 years. The present study was aimed to estimate the probability of a south Indian adolescent being or older than the legally relevant age of 16 years using Demirjian’s tooth formation stages. Orthopantomograms of 640 south Indian adolescents (320 boys and 320 girls) aged between 12 and 20 years were retrospectively analyzed. In each OPG, Demirjian’s formation stage of the mandibular left third molar was recorded and the data was subjected to statistical analysis. Descriptive and Pearsons correlation statistics were performed. The empirical probabilities are provided relative to the medicolegal question of predicting 16 years. The distribution of age throughout the 10^th, 25^th, 50^th, 75^th and 90^th percentile follows a logical distribution pattern horizontally and vertically. Pearson’s correlation statistics showed a strong positive correlation between the Demirjian’s stages and age for both sexes. Therefore, it can be concluded that stage F can be used to predict the attainment of age equal to or older than 16 years with a probability of 93.9% for boys and 96.6% for girls.