NCJ Number
205142
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 49 Issue: 2 Dated: March 2004 Pages: 317-319
Date Published
March 2004
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article outlines a method of age determination for adults that utilizes single-rooted teeth.
Abstract
Forensically, there are many ways to estimate the age of a subject. The field of forensic odontology utilizes several methods for estimating the chronological age of humans. The current study estimated chronological age by assessing the relationship between age and the measurement of the pulp/tooth area ratio (AR) on single-rooted maxillary right canine teeth. X-rays from 100 Italian Caucasian patients, aged 18 to 72 years, were digitized using a scanner and images were recorded in a computer file. Canines, incisors, and second premolars exhibited the clearest digital images; thus the right canine was selected for inclusion in the study. A computer-aided drafting program produced radiographic images of the canines and computations were made of the pulp/tooth ratio, tooth length, pulp/tooth length ratio, pulp/tooth area, and pulp/tooth width ratios. Statistical analyses (Pearson’s correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression) indicated that the ratio between pulp and tooth area correlated best with age. Linear relationships were observed between pulp/root width at mid-root level and chronological age and between pulp/tooth area and age. These two variables accounted for 84.9 percent of the variation in the estimation of chronological age. The error rate was estimated at less than 4 years. Future image analysis programs that can recognize pulp outlines in radiographic images will help minimize human manual measurement error and may also reduce both inter- and intra-observer variability. Tables, figures, references