Age estimation using three established methods. A study on Indian population.

Age estimation is an important factor in the identification of an individual in forensic cases. Adult age determination from teeth was carried out using three methods, namely, Johanson method, methods of Kashyap and Koteswar Rao and the average stage of attrition method (ASA). A total of 100 patients were selected. Johanson and Kashyap method uses microscopic measurements, whereas ASA is purely a clinical method. ASA method was found to be the best method. Unsatisfactory results were seen more in Kashyap's technique. In all the three methods overestimates of age were common in mandibular teeth and in teeth taken from female individuals. More studies are needed in Kashyap's method as there are certain difficulties encountered in measuring a few criteria.