Assessment of Reliability of Width and Length Variables in Kvaal's and Cameriere's Methods of Age Estimation

Abstract

Context: Comparison between antemortem and postmortem dental records and radiographs produce results with a high degree of reliability and relative simplicity. Kvaal et al. introduced an age estimation method by indirectly measuring secondary dentin deposition on radiographs. Cameriere et al., later, put forth a method based on the radiographic estimation of pulp/tooth area ratio (AR) in canines. The purpose of the present study was to assess the validity and reliability of the various width and length variables in Kvaal's and Cameriere's methods of age estimation in a specific populace of Central India origin. Materials and Methods: A total of 110 patients aged between 15 and 75 years were selected, and the variables P = complete pulp length/root length (from enamel-cementum junction [ECJ] to root apex), r = complete pulp length/complete tooth length, a = complete pulp length/root width at ECJ level, b = pulp/root width at midpoint level between ECJ level and mid-root level, and c = pulp/root width at mid-root level, and pulp/tooth AR were recorded as devised in Kvaal's and Cameriere's methods of age estimation, respectively. Statistical Analysis: Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS (version 10.5) package. Mean comparison of morphological variables was carried out using Student's t-test. Intra- and inter-observer reproducibility of measurements was studied using the concordance correlation coefficient. Results: Of all the morphological variables, variables P = complete pulp length/root length (from ECJ to root apex), r = complete pulp length/complete tooth length, mean (M), length (L), and pulp/tooth AR correlated significantly with age with variable P = complete pulp length/root length (from ECJ to root apex) correlating the best among them. Conclusion: Variables associated with width ratios (a = complete pulp length/root width at ECJ level, b = pulp/root width at midpoint level between ECJ level and mid-root level, and c = pulp/root width at mid-root level) rather than length ratios (p = complete pulp length/root length (from ECJ to root apex) and r = complete pulp length/complete tooth length) correlated best with chronological age in the populace of Central India origin.