Pararadicular cementum deposition as a criterion for age estimation in human beings

The purpose of this article is to ascertain if pararadicular cementum can be used as a reliable criterion for age estimation in human beings. Fifty-two nonrestorable teeth were extracted from 42 patients at the Veterans Administration Medical Center at Ann Arbor, Mich. The specimens were prepared to a thickness of 500 microns with a Buehler Isomet bone saw (Bronwell Scientific, Inc., Rochester, N.Y.). Longitudinal sections were cleaned of artifacts in an ultrasonic cleaner and stained with 1% alizarin red. Photomicrographs were taken of each prepared section. The cementum was composed of multiple light and dark bands that were counted on the photograph and added to the average eruption time of the individual tooth. There was an overall Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient of r = 0.93 between the patient's predicted age with the use of cementum annulations as compared with the actual chronologic age of the person. Predicted age counts showed greater divergence from actual age in persons older than 55 years. A formula is presented to adjust for this discrepancy. The data indicate that quantitation of cementum annuli is a moderately reliable means for age estimation in humans.