• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.235-246
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• 2013

Age estimations by forensic odontology play a great role in personal identification. The purpose of this study was to analyze the characteristics of age estimation cases in Korea. Surveying clients who requested age estimation at the Department of Oral Medicine, Kyungpook National University Dental Hospital from March 2012 to March 2013. The results were as follows: 1. On gender distribution, females(57.14%) were more than males(42.86%). The elderly with 50's and over 60's were majorities(89.28%) of clients, and no clients were below 40's. Most of clients were equal to and lower than elementary school graduate(69.64%). 2. The most frequent reason for age discrepancy between registered age and alleged age was mistakes by family or relatives(80.36%). The purposes of age estimation were welfare(62.50%), social relationship problem(12.50%), to find right age(10.71%), and occupation(8.93%). 3. In order of route to visit at Department of Oral Medicine, they were via government office(48.21%), acquaintances(21.43%), mass media(14.29%), and clinic(10.71%). Clients had high degree of comprehension on age estimation with forensic odontology (scored 7.03 out of 10). The 2/3 of clients were satisfied with present fee for age estimation. 4. The percentage on the proximity of estimated age to alleged age was 69.81%. 4(11.43%) clients were approved on age correction by court.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.253-263
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• 2000

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.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.167-176
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• 2008

We analyzed 121 age estimation clients who had visited oral medicine clinic, Chonbuk National University Hospital, from January 2000 to December 2007 to evaluate its characters in Jeonllabuk-do. The obtained results were as follows : 1. There was distinct difference in sex distribution(Male : 58.7%, Female : 41.3%) and more than half percent(55.4%) was over 50's. 2. The difference between registered and alleged age was the most in more than 5 years, and most of them were over 50's. 3. There were more clients who wanted to increase their age than to decrease and was no prominent difference in sex. Age estimation clients who wanted to decrease their age were predominant under 10 years old and in 20's, and those wanted to increase were predominant in 10's and over 30's. 4. The most reasons to correct age were related to welfare benefit. The purpose of age estimation was different according to each age groups; welfare benefit was the most over 50's, occupation in 40's and 50's, friendship in 30's and 40's, sibling-related in 50's, employment in 10's and 20's. 5. Age was estimated by the attrition of permanent tooth and pulp/tooth ratio from 20 years, root apex closure for 10's and calcification of permanent tooth under 10 years old. In cases that were difficult to estimate by use of the attrition of permanent tooth and pulp/tooth ratio, age was estimated by missing time of permanent tooth and the change of mandibular angle with age. 6. The estimated ages were close to alleged age in 77.7% of clients but the rest(22.3%) was close to registered age.