Dental root translucency as an indicator of age.

The apical translucent zone was studied in 1000 human teeth. For each type of tooth, excluding molars, the size of the apical translucency was estimated according to the scoring methods of Gustafson (1), Dalitz (2) & Johanson (3). The lengths of the translucent zones were measured on moist and then on dry teeth, both unsectioned and sectioned, while the areas were measured on dry sectioned teeth only. Statistical analyses using the SPSS package in a Cyber computer indicated a symmetric distribution of the translucent zone in left and right teeth. The extent of the translucency showed little variation from one type of tooth to another. The length of the translucent zone measured on unsectioned teeth demonstrated in most types the closest relation to age. Multiple regression analyses, including more than one method of measuring the size of the translucent zone, resulted in formulas showing a high correlation with age (from 0.68 to 0.86). Slightly larger translucent areas were found in teeth from males, in darker teeth and in teeth with increased thickness of the cementum. The increase in the translucent zone with advancing age was found to be almost linear and was not affected by periodontal destruction.