Estimation of age using kvaal technique based on cone-beam computed tomography images of mandibular canine teeth in Bojnourd

Abstract

Background and Objective: Identifying age in anthropology and forensic medicine and examining the proper development of children and adolescents is important. Age estimation techniques using teeth are of particular value. This study tends to evaluate the accuracy of age estimation by Kvaal technique using CBCT images of mandibular canine teeth in a sample of Iranian population. Materials and Methods: In this crossvalidation study, data from 140 samples of records of patients aged 15 years and older, during 2018-2019, available at a private oral and maxillofacial radiology center in Bojnourd was used. The parameters used in Kvaal technique were measured in mandibular canine teeth on CBCT images of patients. Results: Using multiple linear regression model to correlate parameters of Kvaal technique based on CBCT images of mandibular canine teeth and age with stepwise method showed that variables pulp length/root length, pulp width/root width in the middle, length teeth/root length were significant in predicting age (p<0.05 in all 3 cases). According to the above method, age = 551/5-500 (M) was obtained which was able to estimate age in 35% of the samples. The mean age of the patients was estimated to be 7.9 years, which is acceptable. Conclusion: Kvaal formula was significant for use in Iranian population. The regression formula obtained from the control group could also be generalized to the test group.