Comparative analysis of estimated age by pulp-to-tooth area ratio using CBCT in three different teeth on a subset of...

The study aims to evaluate the pulp-to-tooth area ratio in permanent maxillary central incisors, lateral incisors, and canines for age estimation using three-dimensional cone beam computed tomography images.

Hundred cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of patients aged between 12-70 years were retrospectively studied using NNT Viewer software version 13. Pulpal and teeth area were evaluated with the "area tool" in the acquired images in all three planes, and the pulp-to-tooth area ratio (PTR) was calculated with the measurements obtained. The reproducibility of intra-observer bias using paired t-tests was calculated.

The coefficient of correlation (r) values of maxillary central incisors with age are -0.54, -0.623, and -0.50 in the axial, sagittal, and coronal planes respectively. The r values of maxillary lateral incisors are -0.05, -0.52, and -0.25 in the axial, sagittal, and coronal planes. The coefficient of correlation values (r) of maxillary canine with the age is -0.53, -0.62, and -0.49 in the axial, sagittal, and coronal planes. A strong correlation between chronological age and PTR in multiple sections of the maxillary incisors and canines (p-value <0.05) was observed.

The permanent maxillary central incisor and canine yielded promising results in predicting age. The predicted age derived by mid-sagittal sections was closer to the chronological age than the axial sections, which had the least predictability.