GLOBAL RESEARCH TRENDS IN AGE ESTIMATION FROM CRANIOFACIAL AND DENTAL STRUCTURES: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS (1976–2024)

Age estimation from craniofacial and dental structures is a critical component in forensic science, anthropology, and legal medicine, providing essential information for human identification and medico-legal investigations. This study aimed to map global research trends, identify key contributors, and explore thematic developments in age estimation from craniofacial and dental structures using bibliometric analysis. A comprehensive search of the PubMed database was conducted in August 2025 using a Boolean query combining terms related to age estimation, craniofacial and dental structures, and forensic sciences. Retrieved records were exported in CSV format and cleaned to remove duplicates and standardize metadata. Bibliometric analyses were performed using Python to examine publication trends, prolific authors, leading journals, collaboration patterns, and keyword co-occurrence networks. A total of 71 publications were identified, with the earliest record from 1976 and a notable increase after 2015, peaking in 2024. The most productive authors included Galić I, Friedrich RE, and Scheuer HA. Collaboration network analysis revealed well-connected clusters, particularly among European researchers. Keyword co-occurrence mapping identified two main thematic clusters: (1) methodological approaches to age estimation and validation, and (2) anatomical studies focused on craniofacial and dental features, notably the mandible and third molars. The field of age estimation from craniofacial and dental structures has experienced growing scientific attention, with increasing international collaboration and methodological diversification. This study provides valuable insights for researchers and practitioners, identifying thematic gaps and collaboration opportunities to support the development of more standardized and validated age estimation techniques