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Age estimation based on pulp cavity/chamber volume of 13 types of tooth from cone beam computed tomography images

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Abstract

Aim

The aims of this study are to identify which type of tooth has the strong relationship between age and pulp cavity/chamber volume among 13 types of tooth from the same dentition and to determine whether the inclusion of multiple types of tooth may improve the accuracy of age estimation.

Materials and methods

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images from 115 females and 125 males aged between 16 and 63 years were analyzed. The DICOM data of all the images were imported into ITK-SNAP 2.4 for the calculation of pulp cavity/chamber volumes. Logarithmic regression analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were applied to establish the relationship between age and pulp cavity/chamber volumes.

Results

Among the 13 types of tooth, maxillary second molars have the largest R 2 (0.491, 0.642, and 0.498) and the smallest SEE (8.119, 6.754, and 8.022) in male, female, and pooled gender samples, respectively. The multiple linear regression analysis for the combination of multi-types of tooth indicated that a larger R 2 (0.627, 0.701, and 0.631) and smaller SEE (7.100, 6.258, and 6.970) than the counterpart calculated from the logarithmic regression analysis of a single type of tooth in male, female, and pooled gender samples, respectively.

Conclusion

The pulp chamber volume of the maxillary second molars has the largest correlation coefficient with age. Using multiple types of tooth may improve the accuracy of age estimation compared with only one type of tooth used.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, #22 ZhongguancunNandajie, Hai Dian District, Beijing, 100081, China

    Zhi-pu Ge, Pan Yang, Gang Li & Xu-chen Ma

  2. Department of Forensic Pathology and Anthropology, Institute of Forensic Sciences, Ministry of Public Security P.R.C., Beijing, China

    Ji-zong Zhang

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  1. Zhi-pu Ge
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  2. Pan Yang
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  3. Gang Li
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  5. Xu-chen Ma
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Correspondence to Gang Li.

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Ge, Zp., Yang, P., Li, G. et al. Age estimation based on pulp cavity/chamber volume of 13 types of tooth from cone beam computed tomography images. Int J Legal Med 130, 1159–1167 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-016-1384-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-016-1384-6

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