The correlation between reduction of the coronal pulp cavity and chronological age was examined in a sample of 846 intact teeth from 433 individuals of known age and sex. Panoramic (rotational) radiography was used to measure the height (mm) of the crown (CH = coronal height) and the height (mm) of the coronal pulp cavity (CPCH = coronal pulp cavity height) of 425 premolars and 421 molars from 213 males and 220 females. The tooth-coronal index (TCI) after Ikeda et al. [1985] Jpn. J. For. Med. 39:244-250) was computed for each tooth and regressed on real age. The correlation coefficients ranged from -0.92 (molars, combined sample, right side) to -0.87 (female molars), with an S.E. of the estimate ranging from 5.88-6.66 years. Correlations were slightly higher in males than females. The equations obtained allowed estimation of age in a sample of 100 teeth from both sexes (not used for the regression) with an error of +/- 5 years in 81.4% of cases for male molars. The regression formulae for estimating age obtained from the recent sample were tested on a historical sample of 100 teeth from 100-year-old skeletons with an error of +/- 5 years in 70.3% of cases for male molars. This study illustrates the potential value of a little-known aging method which can be easily applied to estimate age in both living individuals and skeletal material of unknown age.

No abstract

Root dentine transparency (RDT) was used to estimate the ages of human subjects from 152 intact teeth. Teeth were from 134 subjects, both historical and recent, of known age and sex. The aims of this work are 1) to compare two methods of using RDT to estimate age; 2) to test the applicability of the regression formulae for estimating age obtained from a recent sample on an historical sample; and 3) to estimate the suitability of RDT to determine age at death of 100-year-old skeletons. RDT was measured by two techniques: 1) computerized densitometric analysis and 2) vernier caliper. Age estimations based on computerized densitometric analysis were no more accurate than were those determined by caliper measurement; both give a predictive success of +/- 5 years in about 45-48% of cases for premolars. The television-based digitization system has some disadvantages: It is expensive, not portable, and requires some training to use. However, it furnishes a more standardized method, a rapid graphic illustration of the results, and an immediate storage of statistical information for future use.

OLSB performance is a marker of frailty and thus a potentially useful predictor of functional decline.

RESUMENLa correlación entre la reducción de la cavidad coronal pulpar y la edad cronológica ha sido estudiada en una muestra de 846 dientes intactos procedentes de 433 individuos de sexo y edad conocidos. La radiografía panorámica ha sido utilizada para medir el largo (mm) de la corona (CL=coronal length) y el largo (mm) de la cavidad coronal pulpar. El índice dentario "Tooth coronal index" (TCI) según Ikeda et al. (1985) ha sido calculado por cada diente para determinar la edad real del individuo con el método de la regresión. Los coeficientes de regresión varían de -0.92 (molares, muestra total, lado derecho) a -0.87 (molares femeninos) con un S. E. de estimación de 5.88 a 6.66 años. Las correlaciones son más altas en los varones respecto a las mujeres. Las ecuaciones obtenidas lograron estimar la edad en una muestra de 100 dientes (no utilizados en la regresión) con un error de ± 5 años en el 81.4% de los casos por los molares masculinos. El estudio ilustra el valor potencial de un método que puede ser utilizado para estimar la edad en individuos vivos y material esquelético de edad desconocida.Palabras clave: Índice coronal pulpar, edad, adultos, odontología forense. ABSTRACTThe correlation between the reduction of the coronal pulp cavity and the chronological age was examined in a sample of 846 intact teeth from 433 individuals of known age and sex. Panoramic (rotational) radiography was used to measure the length (mm) of the tooth crown (CL=coronal length) and the length (mm) of the coronal pulp cavity (CPCL=coronal pulp cavity length). The tooth-coronal index (TCI) after Ikeda et al. (1985) was computed for each tooth and regressed on the real age of the sample. The correlation coefficients ranged from -0.92 (molars, combined sample, right side) to -0.87 (female molars), with a S.E. of the estimate ranging from 5.88 to 6.66 years. Correlations were slightly higher in males than females. The obtained equations allowed estimation of age in a sample of 100 teeth of both sexes (not used for the regression) with an error of ± 5 years in 81.4% of cases for the male molars. This study shows the potential value of a little-known aging method, which can be easily used to estimate age both in living individuals and skeletal material of unknown age in a forensic context.