Morphometric analysis of pulp size in maxillary permanent central incisors correlated with age: An indirect digital study

CONTEXT: Teeth are hardest part of the body and are least affected by the taphonomic process. They are considered as one of the reliable methods of identification of a person in forensic sciences. AIM: The aim of the following study is to establish morphometeric measurements by AutoCad 2009 (Autodesk, Inc) of permanent maxillary central incisors in different age groups of Udaipur population. SETTING AND DESIGN: Hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study carried out in Udaipur. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A study was carried out on 308 subjects of both genders with the age range of 9-68 years. Standardized intra-oral radiographs were made by paralleling technique and processed. The radiographs were scanned and the obtained images were standardized to the actual size of radiographic film. This was followed by measuring them using software AutoCad 2009. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: F-test, post-hoc test, Pearson's correlation test. RESULTS: For left maxillary central incisor, the total pulp area was found to be of 38.41 ± 12.88 mm and 14.32 ± 7.04 mm respectively. For right maxillary central incisor, the total pulp size was 38.39 ± 14.95 mm and 12.35 ± 5 mm respectively. Males (32.50, 32.87 mm(2)) had more pulp area when compared with females (28.82, 30.05 mm(2)). CONCLUSION: There was a decrease in total pulp area with increasing age which may be attributed to secondary dentin formation.