Forensic Age Estimation of Chinese Malaysian Adults by Evaluating Occlusal Tooth Wear Using Modified Kim's Index.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of dental attrition is an easy and relatively accurate approach to estimating the age of an adult either ante- or postmortem for some specific population. Dental attrition represents a progressive physiological age change that can be measured using variety of indices to aid as an adjunct in forensic age estimation. Some of the previously proposed indices have their own practical limitations. This paper focuses on using modified Kim's criteria to score dental attrition to estimate the age of Chinese Malaysian adults and validate it. METHODOLOGY: Tooth wear was evaluated on 190 dental models of Chinese Malaysian adults (age range: 20-60 years) using modified Kim's index to custom-derive a population specific linear equation. The same equation was validated further on new 60 dental casts. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Regression analysis revealed good correlation between age and teeth wear and lower standard error of estimate. Test of regression on a test sample (n = 30 pairs, age range: 20-60 years) showed insignificant difference between predicted versus the actual age with statistically acceptable mean absolute difference. These data suggest that modified Kim's index can be used effectively in forensic age estimation.

Plastination: A novel, innovative teaching adjunct in oral pathology.

The study of gross specimens is an integral part in learning oral pathology. Unfortunately their storage and handling using traditional formalin is discouragingly difficult. This review describes an alternative approach called "plastination" to study and teach gross specimens using silicone polymers. The process is simple, inexpensive, and can be carried out in any histology laboratory to produce dry, odorless, durable, life-like, maintenance-free, and nonhazardous specimens. Unfortunately the process of plastination for oral specimens has received little attention since its invention. Therefore, an innovative attempt on oral specimens using locally available resin was tried by us. The specimens remained well preserved in dry state without any color change. We recommend this process for any oral pathology department for maintaining museum and for both undergraduate and postgraduate training.