Age assessment based on translucent dentine.

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the relationship between age and the area of translucent dentine (TA) at root apex, and to compare these findings with those obtained by using the methods of Bang & Ramm and of Johanson. The material consisted of 500 teeth, 50 of each tooth type, molars excluded. For statistical analyses an XT microcomputer and SPSS/PC regression programme were used. The correlation between age and ATD varied from 0.83 to 0.57 for different types of teeth. In stepwide multiple regression analyses ATD was preferred to other types of measurement of the translucency. The factors (ATD) and sex contributed significantly to the regression for some types of teeth. Regression analyses using several factors according to Johanson's method resulted in a stronger correlation for most teeth, while the method of Bang & Ramm resulted in a weaker correlation except in the case of mandibular first premolars.