Vanessa M Andrade1,2, Rocharles C Fontenele3, Andreia Cb de Souza1,4, Casimiro Ap de Almeida4, Andrea Cd Vieira5, Francisco C Groppo6, Deborah Q Freitas3, Eduardo D Junior2. 1. Forensic Odontology Service, Afrânio Peixoto Legal Medicine Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 2. Department of Social Odontology, Legal Odontology Division, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. 3. Department of Oral Diagnosis, Division of Oral Radiology, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. 4. Department of Social and Preventive Dentistry, Dentistry College, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 5. Department of Pathology and Oral Diagnosis, Radiology Service, Dentistry College, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 6. Department of Physiological Sciences, Area of Pharmacology, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To develop and validate formulas for age and sex estimation based on the pulp cavity volume of teeth using cone beam CT. METHODS: The sample was composed of 116 cone beam CT scans from Brazilian individuals of both sexes, ranging in age from 13 to 70 years. A total of 232 teeth (upper central incisors and canines) were evaluated. Two calibrated examiners determined pulp cavity volumes using the ITK-SNAP software. Pearson's correlation test was used to assess the correlation between chronological age and pulp volume. Linear and logistic regression models were developed for age and sex estimation, respectively, and were validated in another sample of 72 teeth. RESULTS: Pearson's correlation coefficients between age and pulp volume were negative and significant (p < 0.0001) for both teeth (r = -0.8782 for central incisors and r = -0.8738 for canines). The age estimation formulas showed good determination coefficients (adjusted R² = 0.7614 to 0.8367). For sex estimation, when the age was known, the coefficients were also good (adjusted R² = 0.649 to 0.812). However, when the age was unknown, the coefficients of the sex estimation formulas were low (adjusted R² = 0.047 to 0.393). Validation showed high accuracy of age estimation in individuals older than 35 years, as well as high accuracy of sex estimation when the age was known. CONCLUSIONS: Our formulas provided excellent results and can be applied to the Brazilian population. The best results were observed for age estimation in females and for sex estimation when the age was known.
OBJECTIVES: To develop and validate formulas for age and sex estimation based on the pulp cavity volume of teeth using cone beam CT. METHODS: The sample was composed of 116 cone beam CT scans from Brazilian individuals of both sexes, ranging in age from 13 to 70 years. A total of 232 teeth (upper central incisors and canines) were evaluated. Two calibrated examiners determined pulp cavity volumes using the ITK-SNAP software. Pearson's correlation test was used to assess the correlation between chronological age and pulp volume. Linear and logistic regression models were developed for age and sex estimation, respectively, and were validated in another sample of 72 teeth. RESULTS: Pearson's correlation coefficients between age and pulp volume were negative and significant (p < 0.0001) for both teeth (r = -0.8782 for central incisors and r = -0.8738 for canines). The age estimation formulas showed good determination coefficients (adjusted R² = 0.7614 to 0.8367). For sex estimation, when the age was known, the coefficients were also good (adjusted R² = 0.649 to 0.812). However, when the age was unknown, the coefficients of the sex estimation formulas were low (adjusted R² = 0.047 to 0.393). Validation showed high accuracy of age estimation in individuals older than 35 years, as well as high accuracy of sex estimation when the age was known. CONCLUSIONS: Our formulas provided excellent results and can be applied to the Brazilian population. The best results were observed for age estimation in females and for sex estimation when the age was known.
Entities:
Keywords:
age determination by teeth; cone-beam CT; forensic dentistry; secondary dentin; sex characteristics
Authors: Ana Molina; Manuel Bravo; Gabriel M Fonseca; Nicholas Márquez-Grant; Stella Martín-de-Las-Heras Journal: Int J Legal Med Date: 2020-07-17 Impact factor: 2.686