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Age Estimation Using CBCT and OPG: Evaluation of Root Pulp, Periodontal Ligament Space, and Coronal Index in
1Department of Oral Biology, Altamash Institute of Dental Medicine, Karachi, Pakistan.
Objective:
To compare cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and orthopantomography (OPG) for the radiographic assessment of root pulp visibility (RPV), periodontal ligament visibility (PLV), and the tooth coronal index (TCI) of mandibular third molars in a subset of the Karachi population.
Study Design:
An analytical cross-sectional study design. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Orthodontics, Ziauddin University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, from October 2022 to 2023.
Methodology:
Digital OPGs and CBCTs of 50 mandibular third molars from individuals aged 18-40 years were evaluated. RPV and PLV were assessed using established staging criteria, and the TCI was calculated using a standardised method. Data were analysed with SPSS version 24, employing the chi-square test, the Mann-Whitney U test, and Simple linear regression. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant.
Results:
Comparison of teeth between the two imaging modalities for the assessment of RPV and PLV revealed a statistically significant difference (p <0.001). A statistically significant difference was found between the imaging modalities for TCI. Simple linear regression analysis indicated that, for mandibular third molars (assessed via OPG), each 1-year increase in age corresponds to a 0.492-unit decrease in TCI (p < 0.001).
Conclusion:
The use of radiographic PLV and RPV of the mandibular third molar teeth is a potential marker of a subject's status as an adolescent. In contrast, the use of CBCT-based TCI appears to be an unreliable method for estimating chronological age in a subset of the Karachi population.
Key Words:
Age estimation, Periodontal ligament, Pulp, Radiographs, Mandibular third molar, Adult, Forensic dentistry.