Assessment of age with mandibular first molar: An orthopantogram study

Abstract

© 2017 by Wroclaw Medical University and Polish Dental Society. Background. Assessment of age plays an important role in identifying living beings as well as the dead. Comparing different body parts for age estimation, teeth show the least changes after death and can also be checked in living individuals. This helps in forensics as well as in studying growth. Objectives. The aim of this study was assess the age for Indian individuals from mandibular first molars using orthopantogram. Material and methods. Orthopantograms were obtained from 370 Indian subjects in the age group 6–40 years. The subjects were randomly divided into 2 samples; a study sample (n = 240) and a test sample (n = 130). A regression equation to calculate age was generated from the PCTHR (pulp chamber crown root trunk height ratio) and applied on the test sample to check for reliability of the equation. Results. There was a significant negative correlation between actual age and PCTHR (r = –0.765: p = < 0.0001) in the study group. The regression equation generated from the study sample was calculated age = –94.627 × (PCTHR) + 43.585. When used on the test sample, the calculated age showed no statistically significant difference with the actual age (p = 0.076). The mean difference between actual and calculated age was 3.275 ± 2.188 years. Conclusions. The method of using PCTHR can be applied correctly to assess the age of Indian individuals.