A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Comparing tooth development timing between ethnic groups, excluding nutritional and environmental influences
Authors: Thevissen, Patrick; Waltimo-Sirén, Janna; Saarimaa, Hanna-Maija; Lähdesmäki, Raija; Evälahti, Marjut; Metsäniitty, Mari
Publisher: SPRINGER
Publishing place: NEW YORK
Publication year: 2024
Journal: International Journal of Legal Medicine
Journal name in source: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LEGAL MEDICINE
Journal acronym: INT J LEGAL MED
Volume: 138
Issue: 6
First page : 2441
Last page: 2457
Number of pages: 17
ISSN: 0937-9827
eISSN: 1437-1596
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-024-03279-z
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-024-03279-z
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/457552877
The timing of dental development in ethnic Finns and Somalis, who were born and living in Finland, was compared, with efforts to minimize environmental bias. The developmental status of seven lower left permanent teeth were staged according to Demirjian et al., using panoramic radiographs from 2,100 Finnish and 808 Somali females and males, aged 2 to 23 years. For each tooth, a continuation-ratio model was constructed to analyze the allocated stages as a function of sex and ethnic origin. Several statistically significant differences in mean age of certain tooth developmental stage transitions were revealed. While Somalis generally displayed stage transitions at younger age, none of the seven teeth consistently showed earlier stage transitions in Somalis compared to Finns. Within each tooth, the lowest (or highest) mean age of stage transition varied without any discernible pattern between the two ethnic groups. Overall, the observed differences in mean age of stage transition between the groups was minimal, suggesting a low impact on clinical and forensic age assessment practice. In conclusion, the studied ethnic Finn and Somali groups with equal nutritional and /or environmental conditions exhibit similar timing in the development of all lower left permanent teeth.
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Funding information in the publication:
Open Access funding provided by Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
