Journal of Forensic Research

Age Estimation from Pulp/Tooth Area Ratio in Three Mandibular Teeth by Panoramic Radiographs: Study of an Egyptian Sample

Abstract

Mostafa M Afify, Mohamed K Zayet, Naglaa F Mahmoud and Ahmed R Ragab

Accurate age estimation of human adult is an important problem in both anthropological and forensic fields. Recently, determination of pulp/tooth area ratio from dental radiographs used as noninvasive and feasible methods for adult age prediction. The aim of this study was to test the reliability and applicability of pulp/tooth area ratio (PTR) in three mandibular teeth as an indicator of age by Panoramic Radiographs. A total of 500 panoramic radiographs of Egyptian individuals (262 males and 238 females), aged between 18 and 71 years, were studied. Pulp/tooth area ratios (PTR) were determined by AutoCAD 2010. Data were subjected to correlation and regression analysis which indicated that 2nd premolar (PM2) was the most closely correlated with age(r=-0.947) followed closely by canine(c) (r=-0.941). The 1st premolar revealed the lowest correlation (r=-0.914); among tooth combinations, the three teeth taken together had the best R value (- 0.956). Linear regression equations were determined separately for the individual teeth and tooth combinations. The standard errors of estimates (S.E.E.) of the regression analyses for the individual teeth and tooth combinations ranged from ± 4.10 to 5.66 years, indicating minimal difference in age estimates using solitary or multiple teeth. The observations obtained from the current study indicate that the PTR method is a useful procedure for assessing age with reasonable accuracy among Egyptians in forensic field.