Development of a Population-Specific Forensic Age Estimation Atlas for Nigerians Using Cone Beam CT Analysis of Dental and Skeletal Maturation

Forensic age estimation in living and deceased individuals relies on established biological maturation methods, including dental development staging and skeletal ossification assessment. These methods were largely standardised on European populations and may yield systematic age estimation errors when applied to Nigerians due to differences in maturation timing, nutrition, and skeletal morphology. The absence of a validated Nigerian forensic age estimation atlas constitutes a major gap in national forensic medical capacity. This study aims to develop a population-specific forensic age estimation atlas for Nigerians using Cone Beam Computed Tomography analysis of dental and skeletal maturation markers. A multisite design involving six referral dental and radiological centres across the six geopolitical zones will enrol 1,800 individuals aged 4 to 25 years of known age and ethnic identity. Dental development will be staged using the Demirjian method across all permanent teeth. Skeletal maturation will be assessed through cervical vertebral maturation staging and clavicular and iliac crest ossification indices. Mixed-effects regression models will derive Nigerian-specific age estimation equations. Accuracy, reliability, and applicability of the new atlas will be validated against an independent holdout sample. This atlas will constitute the definitive Nigerian reference for forensic dental and skeletal age estimation, transforming the accuracy of age assessment in legal, asylum, and unidentified remains contexts.

Keywords: forensic age estimation, dental development, Cone Beam CT, skeletal maturation, Nigerian atlas