Journal of Forensic Research

Age Estimation from Pulp/Tooth Area Ratio of Canines using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Image Analysis: Study of an Egyptian Sample

Abstract

Mostafa M Afify, Walid S Salem and Naglaa F Mahmoud

Accurate, non-invasive and conservative methods for dental age estimation of unknown Individuals are an important aspect in different legal, forensic and anthropological situations. The pulp/tooth area ratio (PTR) used to estimate age by measuring the amount of decrease in the volume of the dental pulp cavity due to secondary dentin deposition. The study aims to age estimation based on PTR of canines measured in sagittal and axial planes obtained from Cone‑Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) image data. One hundred fifty CBCT images of Egyptian individuals (age range: 14-68 years) were analysed. PTR were measured by AutoCAD 2013. Linear regression analysis was used to assess the correlation between age and PTR, and to establish a mathematical model for the human age estimation. Study results revealed that the maxillary canines and sagittal sections measurements produced a higher correlation between chronological age and PTR. Therefore, maxillary canine sagittal section was the most accurate for age estimation (r=-0.919). The Standard errors of estimates (SEE) of the regression analyses for the individual canine sections and section combinations were found to be (range: ± 4.76 - 8.1 years) which an acceptable range in for forensic application (SEE ± 10 years). In conclusion, this study showed that PTR calculation of canines is a reliable parameter for human age estimation and that CBCT is an easy and conservative approach with reasonable precision and accuracy.