Age estimation of adults using dental pulp: A cross-sectional radiographic study

Abstract

Background: Age estimation from teeth is frequently used because teeth may be preserved for a long time after all tissues have disintegrated. Dental pulp is a well‑protected structure. With progressing age, the size of the dental pulp chamber is reduced vertically and horizontally as a result of secondary dentin deposition. Thus, assessment of these radiographic measurements can be used as an indicator of age estimation. Aim: Estimation of the chronological age of an adult from dental pulp size using conventional intraoral periapical radiograph. Materials and Methods: The study group consisted of 100 subjects inclusive of both the genders aged between 16 and 50 years. The tooth selected was maxillary left central incisor. Intraoral periapical radiographs were taken by following paralleling cone technique. Total pulp length and cervical pulp width of the root canal were measured. To compensate for the differences in magnification and angulation on the radio graph, ratio between total pulp length, and cervical pulp width was calculated (P/A). Results: A gradual reduction in pulp size was observed with respect total pulp length and cervical pulp width with an increase in age and this showed a significant correlation with the chronological age. Conclusion: Dental age prediction is useful in routine and mass fatalities as teeth can be preserved for a long time. The clinical significance is that, it can be used in anthropology, forensic science, on both living and dead. The results confirm that there is horizontal and vertical reduction in pulp size with an increase in age due to secondary dentin formation. This radiographic morphometric pulp reduction can be used to estimate the nearest chronological age of an adult.