Age estimation of indian adults from orthopantomographs

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop a method for estimating the chronological age of Indian adults based on the relationship between age and various morphological variables of canine teeth, obtained using orthopantomographs. Orthopantomographs of 120 selected patients were digitized, and radiographic images of the right maxillary canine in each case were processed using a computer aided drafting program. Pulp/ tooth area ratio, pulp/root length ratio, pulp/tooth length ratio, pulp/root width ratio at the cemento-enamel junction level, pulp/root width ratio at midroot level, and pulp/root width ratio at the midpoint between the cemento-enamel junction and the midroot of the canine were calculated by measuring various features on the images. Pearson's correlation, multiple linear regression, one way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Student's t-test were used for statistical analysis. Regression equations were developed to estimate age from morphological variables. The observed minus the estimated age in the total study sample ranged from -2.2 to +1.5 years, in males from -0.9 to +0.8 years, while in females it was from -1 to +0.8 years. Differences between observed and estimated ages of subjects were not statistically significant. In conclusion there is a linear relationship of pulp/root width ratio at mid-root level and pulp/ tooth area ratio of the right maxillary canine with chronological age in the Indian population. Age of subjects can therefore be estimated with a good degree of accuracy using regression equations.

Dental age estimation in a Brazilian adult population using Cameriere’s method

“…Several studies have used orthopantomographs, 14,18,19 but we used periapical radiographs in this study because they produced more reliable data with lower chances of superimposition. 4,18,20,21,22,23,24 One of the difficulties we encountered was achieving the desired sample size because all radiographs did not show 4 healthy canines. This issue was more common in patients aged 60 years and older.…”

“…This finding was similar to other studies. 7,19,20,21,22,23,24 Studies that used the method reported here 14,18,22,23,24 showed that sexual dimorphism did not significantly influence age estimation equations; hence, we did not evaluate the sexes separately.…”

“…The relationship between the pulp and central incisors in individuals aged 41-50 years was evaluated in another study, and compared to the RA of 47.18 years, the mean estimated age was 47.17 years. 24 Saxena 18 evaluated a group of subjects aged 41-50 years, and compared to the RA of 44.60 years, the mean estimated age was 44.46 years. The highest mean errors were found in the periapical radiographs of the group aged 20-29 years and in the elderly groups (60-69 and 70-79 years).…”

Dental Age Estimation in Adults: A Review of the Commonly Used Radiological Methods

“…Among the 20 articles, 13 studies [5][6][7][8][9][12][13][14][15][16][17]22,23) were performed on orthopantomograms for measuring of the size of the pulp cavity and 7 studies 4,10,11,[18][19][20][21] were performed on periapical radiographs. Although most studies included range of age, only one study 23) provided insufficient data of age.…”

Assessment of age with mandibular first molar: An orthopantogram study

“…1,2 Comparing different body parts for age estimation, teeth show the least changes after death and can also be checked in living individuals. 3 Age can be assessed in children by studying the different phases of root completion according to the Demirjian method.…”