Rom J Morphol Embryol 2011, 52(2):659–668 ORIGINAL PAPER Age assessment from mandible: comparison of radiographic and histologic methods D. P. MOHITE 1) , M. S. CHAUDHARY 1) , P. M. MOHITE 2) , S. P. PATIL 1) 1) Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Sharad Pawar Dental College, Sawangi (Meghe), Wardha, Maharashtra, India 2) Department of Forensic Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Sawangi (Meghe), Wardha, Maharashtra, India Abstract Age assessment is an integral and important aspect of forensic odontology. The use of long bones and teeth has been documented since decades. The aim of this study was to use both radiographic and histologic methods of age estimation and to determine which method gives a near actual age. Orthopantomograph (OPG) was used to study the radiographic changes and ground sections were made for histologic study. Of the various parameters studied, we concluded that the histologic parameters recorded ages, which were closer to the actual age. Of the histologic parameters, two to three parameters when combined were still better. Keywords: age assessment, radiographic, histologic, OPG, ground sections.  Introduction Chronological age assessment is an important part of medico legal practice. The procedures for age determination are complex and involve the consideration of many factors. Changes related to chronological age are seen in both hard and soft tissue. Amongst the hard tissues, bones are important as they undergo a series of changes from prenatal to postnatal life and changes in their composition and structure continue into old age and even after death. Hence, bones form a reliable source of information regarding growth and growth changes. Normally well-defined skeletal development in bones, cranial sutures and teeth take place at specific ages. However, these changes are significantly affected by genetics, general health and other environmental factors [1]. Estimation of age is extremely important, being second only to sex determination in the identification of human remains. The determination of age becomes more difficult as maturity increases. Where fetal material is concerned, a result may be achieved with an accuracy measured almost in days. As age advances, the situation remains fairly satisfactory until about the cessation of growth and especially the cessation of dental changes so that by the age of 20–25 years all growth markers have ceased to be of assistance. As time goes on through adult life into middle age and into old age, matters become progressively more difficult and the margin of error increases [2]. A number of methods for age determination have been proposed. These can be classified in four categories, namely, clinical, radiological, histological and chemical analysis. In the living persons, any or all of the above methods can be used to determine age, in cases where actual age is not known or is to be confirmed. However, in case of a dead person, post-mortem changes such as decomposition, mutilation or skeletonisation may make identification progressively more difficult almost to the point of impossibility [3]. Dental hard tissues and bone are extremely resistant to fire and are usually the only remains after an extended period of burial. As a result, forensic odontology has gained importance as a tool in identifying the skeletal/ dental remains. As existing age-at-death estimation techniques have limited precision; researchers have sought to demonstrate age-related changes in the dental hard tissues [4]. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the histological and radiographic changes in the cortical bone with increasing age. The aim was to compare the accuracy of histologic and radiographic methods of age determination from mandible.  Materials and Methods The present study was conducted in the Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Sharad Pawar Dental College and Hospital. The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Ethical Committee. The sample consisted of 50 mandibles from cadavers of known age who died from natural cause and those that were not affected by any disease altering the structure of the skeleton. Mandibles with fractures or altered cortices were excluded. The ages of the bones ranged from 20–69 years. The samples were divided into five groups according to decades in the age group from 20–69 years as shown in Table 1. Table 1 shows sex R J M E Romanian Journal of Morphology & Embryology http://www.rjme.ro/