Age estimation using intraoral periapical radiographs

CONTEXT: Changes in the size of dental pulp caused by the apposition of secondary dentin and occlusal wear are morphometric parameters for estimating age. AIM: To estimate the accuracy of age evaluation by Kvaal's method and the effect of occlusal wear on age using digital intraoral periapical radiographs in a subset of the Indian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 300 teeth were radiographically evaluated using intraoral periapical digital radiographs from 50 adult patients. A few modifications were made in the design of the study compared to the original Kvaal's method. The radiographs of three teeth from each jaw were taken and morphometric measurements in ratios were analyzed, which included the pulp length to tooth length (X(1)), pulp length to root length (X(2)), pulp width to root widths at three defined levels (X(3)), and tooth length to root length (X(4)). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient (PCC) between age and the morphological variables showed that among them X(1), X(2), and X(3) were statistically significant but not the tooth root length ratio (X(4)). CONCLUSIONS: The ratios X(1), X(2), and X(3) were good indicators of age and hence a multiple linear regression model for age estimation was derived using these three variables. However, it was found that X(4) was not a good indicator of age estimation in said population.