ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 19 February 2004
Page Count: 3

Variations in Pulp/Tooth Area Ratio as an Indicator of Age: a Preliminary Study
Ferrante, L
Institute of Biochemical Biotechnologies, Faculty of Medicine, Polytechnical University of Marches,

Cingolani, M
Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Macerata,

Cameriere, R
Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Macerata,

(Received 8 October 2003; accepted 16 November 2003)

Abstract

This paper details a method for age determination of adults from single rooted teeth. The sample consisted of 100 Italian white Caucasian patients (46 men, 54 women) aged between 18 and 72 years. The single rooted maxillary right canine was utilized in this preliminary study. Pulp/root ration, tooth length, pulp/tooth length ratio, pulp/tooth area and pulp/root width ratios at three different levels were computed. Pearson's correlation coefficients between age and these variables showed that the ratio between pulp and tooth area correlated best with age (r² = 0.85). Stepwise multiple regression models yielded a linear relationship between pulp/root width at mid-root level and chronological age and a linear relationship when pulp/tooth area was compared to age. Statistical analysis indicated that these two variables explain 84.9% of variations in estimated chronological age. The median of the absolute value of residual errors between actual and estimated ages was less than four years.

Keywords:
forensic science, age determination by teeth, forensic odontology, dental pulp, pulp/tooth area, stepwise linear regression

Paper ID: JFS2003259
DOI: 10.1520/JFS2003259
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