Dental age assessment by pulp-to-tooth volume ratio of maxillary canine by cervical axial section of cbct- a retrospective study of north indian population

Background: Age estimation from teeth is a key indicator to establish identity in forensic cases. CBCT provides several advantages compared to conventional radiographic methods which has been used regularly in forensic cases. Purpose: Dental Age estimation by pulp-to-tooth volume ratio using cone-beam computed tomography. The Retrospective study will attempt to establishing a correlation between the chronological age of a certain individual and the pulp/tooth volume ratio using Cone-beam computed tomography. Materials and Methodology: In this study a total of 50 scans (25 males and 25 females) respectively were collected from the archives of a imaging centre located in Delhi-NCR region. Out of this 50 scans, 20 scans (i.e 10 males and 10 females) of age group between 15-75 years were selected for the study based on the inclusion & exclusion criteria of the study. Results: Mean difference and Standard error difference between the Chronological and Estimated age was not significant as p> 0.05, that is the difference between the Chronological and Estimated age was less. The Pearson Correlation(r) were highly significant, p<0.01. Estimated age was more accurate in middle age. Regression formula for maxillary canine (overall) Age = 48.009 – (973.172 × Pulp/ Tooth Volume Ratio). Conclusion: In our study standard error difference between chronological and estimated age is ±4.09781 years. There was a negative correlation between chronological age and Pulp/ tooth volume ratio, as the advancing age is associated with a decrease in the pulp/ tooth volume ratio.