Korean J Leg Med.  2018 May;42(2):56-61. 10.7580/kjlm.2018.42.2.56.

Age Estimation Based on Pulp Chamber Size of Mandibular First Molars from Intraoral Periapical Radiographs in Korean

• Jeon HM
• Jang SM
• Kim KH
• Kim SY
• Jung KH
• Ok SM
• Jeong SH
• Ahn YW

• KMID: 2412861
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7580/kjlm.2018.42.2.56

Abstract

The teeth are the hardest structures in the body and can be a biomarker of aging. The aging process and degenerative changes in the teeth are helpful for estimation of age in adults. One of the best-known features of dental aging is a reduction in the size of the pulp chamber as a result of secondary deposition of dentin. In this study, we developed new regression models to estimate chronological age in Korean adults using the mandibular first molars to examine the relationship between age and pulp cavity size on intraoral radiographs. Intraoral periapical digital radiographs of the mandibular first molars were collected from 243 patients (147 male, 96 female) of known age. The radiographic images were analyzed by using the Adobe Photoshop CS5 image editing program. The pulp chamber height ratio (PCHR), pulp chamber width ratio (PCWR) were calculated and found to have a significant negative correlation with age. The correlation was consistently higher for PCHR than for PCWR. The strongest correlation was found for PCHR in female patients (r=−0.824). Multiple regression models were derived using the PCHR and PCWR. The determination coefficients (R²) of the models ranged from 0.660 to 0.730. Our results indicate that the measurement of pulp chamber height and width in the mandibular first molar is a practical, simple and reliable method for estimation of age in Korean adults.

Keyword

Age determination by teeth; Dentin; Korea; Population; Radiography

MeSH Terms

Adult
Age Determination by Teeth
Aging
Dental Pulp Cavity*
Dentin
Female
Humans
Korea
Male
Methods
Molar*
Radiography
Tooth

Figure

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  Fig. 1 (A) Schematic representation of tooth measurements (lingual aspect of permanent mandibular first molar). (B) Measurements performed on intraoral periapical radiograph of a mandibular first molar by using Adobe Photoshop CS5 program. A-B, distance from the start point of lingual groove to the highest point on the root furcation; a-b, the height of the pulp chamber; C-D, mesiodistal diameter at the point of bisecting a-b; c-d, the width of the pulp chamber; CEJ, cemento-enamel junction.

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