Root dentine transparency: age determination of human teeth using computerized densitometric analysis

Area of Science:

• Forensic Anthropology
• Dental Age Estimation

Background:

• Root dentine transparency (RDT) is a recognized indicator for estimating human age.
• Accurate age estimation is crucial in forensic and archaeological contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare two methods for measuring RDT: computerized densitometric analysis and vernier caliper.
• To evaluate the applicability of regression formulas derived from recent samples to historical samples.
• To assess RDT's suitability for aging skeletons of individuals over 100 years old.

Main Methods:

• 152 intact human teeth from 134 individuals (historical and recent) were analyzed.
• RDT was measured using computerized densitometric analysis and a vernier caliper.
• Regression formulae were developed and tested across different sample groups.

Main Results:

• Computerized densitometric analysis did not yield more accurate age estimations than caliper measurements.
• Both methods achieved a predictive success of approximately +/- 5 years in 45-48% of cases for premolars.
• The computerized system, despite its cost and portability issues, offers standardization and data management benefits.

Conclusions:

• RDT measurement, using either computerized or caliper methods, provides a reliable, albeit not perfectly precise, means for age estimation.
• The findings support the use of RDT in forensic anthropology, particularly for aging older individuals.
• Further research may refine RDT methodologies for improved accuracy and broader applicability.