International Journal of Dentistry Research 2017; 2(2): 44-48 DOI:10.31254/dentistry.2017.2206

Research Article

Assessment of pulp- tooth length ratio in forensic age estimation

Urvashi A Shetty¹ , Kumudha Rao² , D’Cruz Audrey M³ , Pushparaja Shetty⁴ , Srikala Bhandary⁵

Urvashi A Shetty,Kumudha Rao,D’Cruz Audrey M,Pushparaja Shetty,Srikala Bhandary

1. Lecturer, Department of Oral Pathology & Microbiology, A. B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte University, Mangalore, Karnataka
2. Lecturer, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, A. B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte University, Mangalore, Karnataka
3. Reader, Department of Public Health Dentistry, A. B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte University, Mangalore, Karnataka
4. Professor and Head, Department of Oral Pathology & Microbiology, A. B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte University, Mangalore, Karnataka
5. Reader, Department of Pedodontics A. B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte University, Mangalore, Karnataka

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 9th January, 2017 / Accepted: 6th July, 2017 / Published : 31st August, 2017

Abstract

Background: Among various essential factors given for establishing the identity of the person, age is of utmost
importance. Age estimation is a process of particular interest adopted by Anthropologist, Archaeologists & Forensic
scientists in order to identify a person who is dead/missing/living. Various studies and techniques have been
documented for age estimation, each one demonstrating various degrees of accuracy, reliability & precision. Among
various methods of age estimation, teeth arefrequently used for the same as they may be preserved for a longertime
evenafter all other tissues have disintegrated. Aim: This study aims to present a method for assessing the chronological
age of an individual bycorrelating the relationship between age and pulp /tooth lengthRatio inmandibular canine.
Materials and Methods: In the present study, 60 extracted permanent mandibular canines were included from
individuals with known age (between the age group of 15-70 yrs) and sex. The sample were subdivided into 6 groups based on the age of the individual with 10 samples in each group. The measurement was done by unsectioned method to measure the pulp toothlength ratio, Maximum tooth length was measured with a pair of digital Vernier Caliper and Maximum pulp length by endodontic K-file. Data obtained was tabulated and statistically analyzed using One-way ANOVA test for continuous variables and unpaired t test for categorical variables. Results: There was significant difference for all the study variableslike (pulp: tooth length ratio) across different age groups. However, there was no significant difference in the study variables between the genders. A gradual reduction in pulp size was observed with respect to 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 results and observations obtained from the present study indicate that with advancing age, the length of the dental pulp chamber decreases vertically as well as horizontally as a result of secondary dentin deposition. However, these variables could not differentiate between the genders. Thus, assessment of pulp/tooth length ratio on mandibular canine using odontometric procedure manually without any sophisticated instruments canbe used as an alternative method to estimate the nearest chronological age with reasonable accuracy when radiographs are not available