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Age estimation using pulp-to-tooth area ratio in maxillary anterior teeth: A study on a Kerala population using
Manickam Selvamani1, Sudeendra Prabhu2, Roshin Chandri Narayanan1
1Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Mahe Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Mahe, Kerala, India.
Context:
Precise age assessment is essential in forensic identification. This study assessed the relationship between pulp-to-tooth area ratio (PTAR) and chronological age and developed population-specific regression models for individuals from Kerala, India.
Aim:
To estimate the age by pulp-to-tooth area ratio in maxillary anterior teeth using Cameriere's method in the Kerala sample population.
Settings And Design:
A retrospective, cross-sectional study utilised digital intra-oral periapical radiographs to estimate age by Cameriere's approach in persons aged 21 to 70 years, focussing on maxillary anterior teeth.
Methods And Material:
A total of 561 digital radiographs from persons aged 21 to 70 years were analysed with GIMP software. Regression models were developed and tested using a control group (n = 170 per tooth). The accuracy was evaluated by mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE) and compared with existing models.
Statistical Analysis Used:
The Student t-test, Pearson's correlation, linear regression, MAE, and RMSE were used to evaluate model performance.
Results:
The newly derived Indian regression equations demonstrated MAEs of 5.627 years for central incisors, 7.608 years for lateral incisors, and 5.890 years for canines. The canine showed the best accuracy, outperforming Cameriere's (MAE = 7.223, 6.699) and Jeevan's (MAE = 6.549) equations. All new models produced acceptable age estimates (MAE <10 years) across age groups.
Conclusions:
PTAR-based regression models are effective for age estimation in the Kerala population, with the canine providing the most reliable estimates.
