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Conventional versus digital approach for measuring dentin translucency in forensic age estimation
Varun Chopra1, Gopal Thodasam2, Zeeshan Heera Ahmad3
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Mauras College of Dentistry and Hospital and ORI, Arsenal, Republic of Mauritius.
Journal of Natural Science, Biology, and Medicine
|March 27, 2015
Summary
A new digital method for measuring root dentine translucency shows comparable accuracy to traditional caliper measurements for age estimation. Both methods provide reliable results, with slight variations in accuracy for different age ranges.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Anthropology
- Dental Age Estimation
- Biomaterials Science
Background:
- Root dentine translucency is the gold standard for accurate age estimation.
- Conventional age estimation relies on caliper measurements of translucency.
- Emerging computer-based methods require custom software.
Purpose of the Study:
- To digitally measure dentinal translucency in sectioned teeth.
- To compare digital measurements with conventional caliper measurements for age estimation.
Main Methods:
- 200 extracted permanent teeth were sectioned to 250 μm thickness.
- Dentinal translucency was measured using both a digital method and calipers.
- Measurements were correlated with chronological age.
Main Results:
- Both digital and conventional methods showed statistically significant correlation with age (P < 0.001).
- Conventional method showed a marginally higher correlation (r = 0.612).
- Both methods demonstrated similar accuracy for age estimation within 5-10 years, with digital slightly better beyond 10 years.
Conclusions:
- Digital and conventional methods yielded identical translucency measurements.
- Neither method demonstrated clear superiority for age estimation.
- Both approaches are viable for dental age assessment.
