Authors : E. Metska, C. Stavrianos and L. Vasiliadis
Abstract: Age estimation is a process of particular interest in cases of forensic interest as well as in anthropological studies. Many methods have been suggested such as cementum thickness, dental colour, tooth attrition, secondary dentine formation, periodontosis, apical resorption and many techniques have been employed but root dentine translucency remains the method of choice providing the most accurate results for age estimation. The aim of the present study is: to investigate the correlation between the percentage of root translucency in human single-rooted teeth of the lower jaw and age to compare the percentage of translucency between the roots of a molar to compare the percentage of root dentine translucency of the same root of a molar in different individuals of know age. During the study, 44 fresh extracted teeth were utilized. In particular, 17 incisors, 13 canines, 3 premolars of the upper jaw, 3 first molars of the upper jaw and 7 of the lower jaw. The teeth were extracted from 32 individuals, between 12 and 77 years. Group A was made up of the single-rooted teeth of the lower jaw, whereas group B of the molars. Segments with 250 μ g thickness were scanned and saved as bitmap files. The translucency was measured with the use of Visio Professional 2002, a Microsoft product. There is a positive linear correlation between root dentine translucency and age, with a correlation coefficient of r = 0.784. The is a lack of uniformity in dentine translucency among the roots of the same molar tooth. When each root by means of its translucency is taken into account, there is a gradual increase of root dentine translucency of all roots with age, except the distal roots of 2 samples. Among the results of the roots of the upper teeth there is uniformity in the development of root dentine translucency and the palatal root presents a higher percentage than the mesiobuccal and the previous a higher than the disto-buccal.
E. Metska, C. Stavrianos and L. Vasiliadis, 2009. Estimation of Dental Age Using Root Dentine Translucency. Surgery Journal, 4: 21-28.