Identification: Gustafson's method: practice question

A Forensic Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Forensic Medicine · Identification: Gustafson's method

Sample item

Gustafson's method of estimating adult age at death examines a longitudinal section of a tooth for which set of changes?

ACrown formation, root completion and apical closure by stagesBAttrition, periodontosis, secondary dentine, cementum apposition, root resorption and root transparencyCEruption sequence, crowding, spacing and malocclusionDEnamel hypoplasia, caries, fluorosis, crown fractures and restorations

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Attrition, periodontosis, secondary dentine, cementum apposition, root resorption and root transparency

Gustafson (1950) assessed six regressive age changes in a ground section of a single-rooted tooth, giving each a score from 0 to 3 and adding them to estimate age. Root transparency is the single most reliable of the six.

Option by option

A. Crown formation, root completion and apical closure by stages
Staged crown and root formation is used for age estimation in children and adolescents, as in Demirjian's method.
B. Attrition, periodontosis, secondary dentine, cementum apposition, root resorption and root transparency (correct)
These are the six regressive changes Gustafson scored.
C. Eruption sequence, crowding, spacing and malocclusion
Eruption sequence and crowding are used in childhood assessment, not adult age estimation.
D. Enamel hypoplasia, caries, fluorosis, crown fractures and restorations
Hypoplasia, caries and restorations reflect disease and treatment history, not age-related regression.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is B, Attrition, periodontosis, secondary dentine, cementum apposition, root resorption and root transparency. Gustafson (1950) assessed six regressive age changes in a ground section of a single-rooted tooth, giving each a score from 0 to 3 and adding them to estimate age.

Why is "Crown formation, root completion and apical closure by stages" not the answer?

Staged crown and root formation is used for age estimation in children and adolescents, as in Demirjian's method.

Why is "Eruption sequence, crowding, spacing and malocclusion" not the answer?

Eruption sequence and crowding are used in childhood assessment, not adult age estimation.

Why is "Enamel hypoplasia, caries, fluorosis, crown fractures and restorations" not the answer?

Hypoplasia, caries and restorations reflect disease and treatment history, not age-related regression.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Identification: Gustafson's method in Forensic Medicine. Root transparency is the single most reliable of the six.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Identification: Gustafson's method?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.