Do upper third molars provide more accurate age estimation in the adult based on the pulp-to-tooth ratio than lower third molars? A cone-beam CT study
Introduction: Age-at-death estimation is an essential part of the identification process of individuals in many forensic dentistry cases where identity of the individual cannot be resolved by visual recognition or other means. Dental age estimation in adults is more of a challenge as most teeth comp...
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Springer
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Saudi Dental Journal |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1013905220300900 |
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| author | Salah A. Al-Omoush Abeer Alhadidi Awni Al-Kayed Hamza Saoud Firas Alsoleihat |
| author_facet | Salah A. Al-Omoush Abeer Alhadidi Awni Al-Kayed Hamza Saoud Firas Alsoleihat |
| author_sort | Salah A. Al-Omoush |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Age-at-death estimation is an essential part of the identification process of individuals in many forensic dentistry cases where identity of the individual cannot be resolved by visual recognition or other means. Dental age estimation in adults is more of a challenge as most teeth complete their development by the age of 18 years. Aim: This study aims at using the mesio-distal (MD) pulp-to-tooth ratio taken at the cervix of upper third molars (UM3) to estimate age at the time of radiographic imaging. Materials and Methods: A set of 135 Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) radiographs of UM3s for a random sample of 135 Jordanian adults (65 females, 70 males; age range = 18–63 years, mean age = 34.4 years, SD = 11.2 years) were used. Both pulp and tooth MD diameters were measured at the cervix. MD pulp-to-tooth ratios for UM3s were correlated with age. Results: Statistically significant negative moderate correlation was found between the age of the individual and the cervix MD pulp/tooth ratio (r = −0.516). This indicates that only 26.6% of the variation in age can be explained by the cervix MD pulp-to-tooth ratio. Conclusions: This study concludes that cervix MD pulp-to-tooth ratio of UM3s, although apparently stronger than that of lower M3s (r = −0.361), is not a sufficiently reliable estimator of age in adults, and this is perhaps attributed to the greater variability in the time line of third molars development. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d64233101ab943059d4dd0dbaf0e2a76 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1013-9052 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Saudi Dental Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-d64233101ab943059d4dd0dbaf0e2a762025-08-20T01:56:01ZengSpringerSaudi Dental Journal1013-90522021-11-0133770270610.1016/j.sdentj.2020.04.006Do upper third molars provide more accurate age estimation in the adult based on the pulp-to-tooth ratio than lower third molars? A cone-beam CT studySalah A. Al-Omoush0Abeer Alhadidi1Awni Al-Kayed2Hamza Saoud3Firas Alsoleihat4Department of Removable Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Jordan, Amman 11942, JordanDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Periodontology, School of Dentistry, University of Jordan, Amman 11942, JordanDepartment of Conservative Dentistry and Fixed Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Jordan, Amman 11942, JordanFaculty of Dentistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, JordanDepartment of Conservative Dentistry and Fixed Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan; Corresponding author.Introduction: Age-at-death estimation is an essential part of the identification process of individuals in many forensic dentistry cases where identity of the individual cannot be resolved by visual recognition or other means. Dental age estimation in adults is more of a challenge as most teeth complete their development by the age of 18 years. Aim: This study aims at using the mesio-distal (MD) pulp-to-tooth ratio taken at the cervix of upper third molars (UM3) to estimate age at the time of radiographic imaging. Materials and Methods: A set of 135 Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) radiographs of UM3s for a random sample of 135 Jordanian adults (65 females, 70 males; age range = 18–63 years, mean age = 34.4 years, SD = 11.2 years) were used. Both pulp and tooth MD diameters were measured at the cervix. MD pulp-to-tooth ratios for UM3s were correlated with age. Results: Statistically significant negative moderate correlation was found between the age of the individual and the cervix MD pulp/tooth ratio (r = −0.516). This indicates that only 26.6% of the variation in age can be explained by the cervix MD pulp-to-tooth ratio. Conclusions: This study concludes that cervix MD pulp-to-tooth ratio of UM3s, although apparently stronger than that of lower M3s (r = −0.361), is not a sufficiently reliable estimator of age in adults, and this is perhaps attributed to the greater variability in the time line of third molars development.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1013905220300900Age-at-death estimationForensic dentistrySecondary dentinCone-beam computed tomographyThird molars |
| spellingShingle | Salah A. Al-Omoush Abeer Alhadidi Awni Al-Kayed Hamza Saoud Firas Alsoleihat Do upper third molars provide more accurate age estimation in the adult based on the pulp-to-tooth ratio than lower third molars? A cone-beam CT study Saudi Dental Journal Age-at-death estimation Forensic dentistry Secondary dentin Cone-beam computed tomography Third molars |
| title | Do upper third molars provide more accurate age estimation in the adult based on the pulp-to-tooth ratio than lower third molars? A cone-beam CT study |
| title_full | Do upper third molars provide more accurate age estimation in the adult based on the pulp-to-tooth ratio than lower third molars? A cone-beam CT study |
| title_fullStr | Do upper third molars provide more accurate age estimation in the adult based on the pulp-to-tooth ratio than lower third molars? A cone-beam CT study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Do upper third molars provide more accurate age estimation in the adult based on the pulp-to-tooth ratio than lower third molars? A cone-beam CT study |
| title_short | Do upper third molars provide more accurate age estimation in the adult based on the pulp-to-tooth ratio than lower third molars? A cone-beam CT study |
| title_sort | do upper third molars provide more accurate age estimation in the adult based on the pulp to tooth ratio than lower third molars a cone beam ct study |
| topic | Age-at-death estimation Forensic dentistry Secondary dentin Cone-beam computed tomography Third molars |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1013905220300900 |
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