Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Age estimation by volumetric analysis of teeth using cone beam computed tomography

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Oral Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives

To evaluate the feasibility of using the pulp volume (Pv) to total volume (Tv) ratio (Pv:Tv), obtained from cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of single-rooted teeth, for age estimation in a Brazilian population sample.

Methods

After obtaining approval from the ethics committee, the study commenced by applying inclusion criteria to screen CBCT scans, resulting in a probability-based sample of participants aged 18 years and older (ranging from 18 to 82 years, with a mean age of 46.44 years). A total of 517 single-rooted teeth, including maxillary central incisors (CI), mandibular canines (C), and mandibular first premolars (FP), were chosen based on excellent agreement values (> 0.9). Pv and Tv measurements were conducted using semi-automatic segmentation with ITK-SNAP 3.8 software. Statistical analysis was performed using Jamovi software, with a significance level set at 5% (α = 0.05).

Results

A strong negative correlation (r > −0.7) was observed between chronological age and the Pv:Tv ratio across all examined teeth. However, when conducting regression analysis with Pv:Tv data and chronological age as the independent variable, only the mandibular FP teeth exhibited a normal distribution. The resulting linear model demonstrated moderate predictive value (approximately 64%) in explaining the variance in chronological age, but caution should be exercised when interpreting these findings.

Conclusions

The method of measuring individual tooth volume using CBCT to estimate chronological age via Pv:Tv has been demonstrated as effective and reproducible within the Brazilian population sample.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Verma M, Verma N, Sharma R, Sharma A. Dental age estimation methods in adult dentitions: an overview. J Forensic Dent Sci. 2019. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfo.jfds_64_19.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Patil V, Saxena J, Vineetha R, et al. Age assessment through root lengths of mandibular second and third permanent molars using machine learning and artificial neural networks. J Imaging. 2023. https://doi.org/10.3390/jimaging9020033.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Gulsahi A, Kulah CK, Bakirarar B, Gulen O, Kamburoglu K. Age estimation based on pulp/tooth volume ratio measured on cone-beam CT images. Dentomaxillofac Radiol. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1259/dmfr.20170239.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Andrade VM, Fontenele RC, de Souza AC, et al. Age and sex estimation based on pulp cavity volume using cone beam computed tomography: development and validation of formulas in a Brazilian sample. Dentomaxillofac Radiol. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1259/dmfr.20190053.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Zheng Q, Ge Z, Du H, Li G. Age estimation based on 3D pulp chamber segmentation of first molars from cone-beam-computed tomography by integrated deep learning and level set. Int J Legal Med. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-020-02459-x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Kazmi S, Mânica S, Revie G, Shepherd S, Hector M. Age estimation using canine pulp volumes in adults: a CBCT image analysis. Int J Legal Med. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-019-02147-5.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Merdietio Boedi R, Shepherd S, Mânica S, Franco A. CBCT in dental age estimation: a systematic review and meta analysis. Dentomaxillofac Radiol. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1259/dmfr.20210335.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Porto LV, Celestino da Silva Neto J, Anjos Pontual AD, Catunda RQ. Evaluation of volumetric changes of teeth in a Brazilian population by using cone beam computed tomography. J Forensic Leg Med. 2015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jflm.2015.07.007.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Miranda JC, Azevedo ACS, Rocha M, Michel-Crosato E, Biazevic MGH. Age estimation in Brazilian adults by Kvaal’s and Cameriere’s methods. Braz Oral Res. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1590/1807-3107bor-2020.vol34.0051.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Dezem TU, Franco A, Machado Palhares CE, et al. Testing the Olze and Timme methods for dental age estimation in radiographs of Brazilian subadults and adults. Acta Stomatol Croat. 2021. https://doi.org/10.15644/asc55/4/6.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Calvo-González E, Ventura SR. Problematizing miscegenation: the fact/fiction of race in contemporary Brazil. J Anthropol Sci. 2018. https://doi.org/10.4436/JASS.96013.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Yousefi F, Mohammadi Y, Ahmadvand M, Razaghi P. Dental age estimation using cone-beam computed tomography: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Imaging Sci Dent. 2023. https://doi.org/10.5624/isd.20221226.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Uğur Aydın Z, Bayrak S. Relationship between pulp tooth area ratio and chronological age using cone-beam computed tomography images. J Forensic Sci. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.13986.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Santos MA, Muinelo-Lorenzo J, Fernández-Alonso A, Cruz-Landeira A, Aroso C, Suárez-Cunqueiro MM. Age Estimation using maxillary central incisor analysis on cone beam computed tomography human images. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192013370.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Nemsi H, Haj Salem N, Bouanene I, et al. Age assessment in canine and premolar by cervical axial sections of cone-beam computed tomography. Leg Med. 2017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.legalmed.2017.07.004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Cameriere R, De Luca S, Alemán I, Ferrante L, Cingolani M. Age estimation by pulp/tooth ratio in lower premolars by orthopantomography. Forensic Sci Int. 2012. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2011.07.028.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Agematsu H, Someda H, Hashimoto M, et al. Three-dimensional observation of decrease in pulp cavity volume using micro-CT: age-related change. Bull Tokyo Dent Coll. 2010. https://doi.org/10.2209/tdcpublication.51.1.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. De Angelis D, Gaudio D, Guercini N, et al. Age estimation from canine volumes. Radiol Med. 2015. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-015-0521-5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. De Tobel J, Ottow C, Widek T, et al. Dental and skeletal imaging in forensic age estimation: disparities in current approaches and the continuing search for optimization. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0040-1701495.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Kühnisch J, Anttonen V, Duggal MS, et al. Best clinical practice guidance for prescribing dental radiographs in children and adolescents: an EAPD policy document. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40368-019-00493-x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Aboshi H, Takahashi T, Komuro T. Age estimation using microfocus X-ray computed tomography of lower premolars. Forensic Sci Int. 2010. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2010.03.024.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Asami R, Aboshi H, Iwawaki A, Ohtaka Y, Odaka K, Abe S, Saka H. Age estimation based on the volume change in the maxillary premolar crown using micro CT. Leg Med (Tokyo). 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.legalmed.2018.12.001.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Thanks to the volunteer participants who provided their CBCT exams for use in the study and to the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Brasil (CAPES), which partially funded this study—Finance Code 001.

Funding

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, 001, Ana Beatriz Raposo SOUZA

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Program in Dentistry, Fluminense Federal University, Health Institute of Nova Friburgo, Nova Friburgo, RJ, Brazil

    Ana Beatriz Raposo Souza

  2. Graduate Program in Dentistry, Fluminense Federal University, Health Institute of Nova Friburgo, R. DR. Silvio Henrique Braune, 22 Centro, Nova Friburgo, RJ, CEP: 28625-650, Brazil

    Adriana Dibo Cruz

  3. Department of Specific Formation, Fluminense Federal University, Health Institute of Nova Friburgo, Nova Friburgo, RJ, Brazil

    Marcelo Freitas Aguiar

Authors
  1. Ana Beatriz Raposo Souza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Adriana Dibo Cruz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Marcelo Freitas Aguiar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Adriana Dibo Cruz.

Ethics declarations

Conflicts of interest

We wish to disclose that there are no direct or potential conflicts of interest associated with this study. Furthermore, it is pertinent to mention that this research received partial funding through indirect support to the graduate program in which the study was conducted, as acknowledged in the acknowledgments section.

Ethical approval

All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation Faculty of Dentistry of Nova Friburgo at the Federal Fluminense University and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2008 (5).

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study. Identifying information of patients or human subjects is not included in the article.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Souza, A.B.R., Cruz, A.D. & Aguiar, M.F. Age estimation by volumetric analysis of teeth using cone beam computed tomography. Oral Radiol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11282-024-00750-w

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11282-024-00750-w

Keywords

Search

Navigation