CT and MR imaging used in age estimation: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Forensic Anthropology
• Radiology
• Odontology

Background:

• Dental age estimation is crucial in forensic and anthropological contexts.
• Radiological imaging techniques like CT and MRI offer non-invasive methods for assessing biological age.
• Previous research has explored various dental and imaging modalities for age determination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize findings from studies utilizing Computer Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for dental age estimation.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of different teeth, imaging methods, and formulae in age assessment.
• To identify factors contributing to higher accuracy in radiological dental age estimation.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of published studies between July 2004 and September 2017.
• Inclusion of 27 articles focusing on CT or MRI in dental age estimation.
• Analysis of diverse methodologies, tooth types, and age estimation formulae.

Main Results:

• Studies employing CT and MRI demonstrated good results for dental age estimation.
• The accuracy of age estimation varied depending on the specific teeth and methods used.
• Combining multiple tooth types and assessment methods improved accuracy.

Conclusions:

• Computer Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are valuable tools for dental age estimation.
• A multimodal approach, integrating different tooth types and methods based on root formation, enhances precision.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration in research studies can further improve the reliability of age assessment techniques.