Age Estimation through Dental Measurements Using Cone-Beam Computerized Tomography Images in a Sample of Upper Egyptian Population

Abstract

The role of forensic odontology has increased in recent years. Age estimation of living or deceased individuals is an important aspect of this science .Dental age estimation methods are of particular value because teeth are highly resistant to mechanical, chemical, or physical impacts and time. So the aim of this study was to investigate the possible estimation of age by using dental age through some dental measurements using cone beam computerized tomography (CBCT). The study was done on forty eight cases (24 males and 24 females). Multiple measurements were done on the right upper central incisor, right upper lateral incisors, right upper canine and right first premolar teeth and their pulp at different levels (maximum width of the crown, cervical area, mid-root and apex) by many views: sagittal (buccolingual dimension), coronal (mesiodistal dimension), and axial (bucco-lingual and mesiodistal dimensions). In addition the tooth and the pulp areas were measured .The study proved that the most accurate model for determination of age in upper first premolar tooth was measurement of pulp length + pulp width at the crown+ pulp width mid level of the pulp where R was 97%. Followed by upper central incisor pulp width at mid-level of the pulp in Bucco-lingual view with R 96%. While measurement of tooth length for upper canine at Bucco-lingual view was the least accurate method for this tooth with R 90%. So the study concluded that using CBCT is useful in detection of age by obtaining linear teeth measurements. In addition, the use of the upper first premolar tooth measurements followed by upper central incisor followed by upper canine are useful in estimating the chronologic age of any person.

Application of Kvaal’s Age Estimation Method in Maxillary Central Incisor: A CBCT Study

“…In the present study, analysis of pulp size was performed at CEJ, the middle third of the root, midway between the apex and CEJ, between CEJ and mid root level. A more significant correlation was seen in the middle third of the root canal as compared to the coronal and apical region of the maxillary central incisor similar to studies by Ahmed, et 18,33,39,[45][46][47][48] . The radiographic pulpal morphometric analysis used in the present study can be recommended to assess the age of an adult for forensic purposes.…”

“…This findings were similar to study done by Kvaal, et al, Bosmans, et al, Limdiwala, et al, Mittal, et al, Patil, et al 5,6,15,20,30 . Width ratio in the sagittal section had a higher correlation to age than width ratio in coronal section parallel to study of Penzola et al 3,33 .…”

“…Different authors applied Kvaal's method to a single tooth or in a combination of different teeth using various imaging modalities, in which maxillary central incisors were found to be a better predictor of age 8,24,[28][29][30][31][32] . Central incisors are single-rooted teeth with the largest pulp area and the lowest morphological diversity among human teeth; they also encompass more secondary dentin tissue 30,33 . Considering these, age-related morphological changes in the maxillary central incisor were determined in the present study.…”

“…CBCT in dental use provides plenty of 3D volume information of the teeth on living individuals in the target area with a single scan. The measurement of the volumes of pulp and canal at different views and levels of the tooth can be operated non-destructively and accurately for age estimation 33,35 . In the present study, with the expectation of achieving greater accuracy in dental age estimation with the substantially increased quality of CBCT images, linear measurements of morphological variables were performed on sagittal and coronal sections of CBCT images of the permanent maxillary central incisor.…”