Age Estimation Using Pulp/Tooth Area Ratio of Upper Canines in a Thai Population
This study examined the correlation between age and pulp/tooth area ratio in maxillary canines in a Thai population, to develop an equation for age estimation and to test the accuracy of the equation. Sample of 544 periapical radiographs of maxillary canines were collected. The AutoCAD 2017 program was used in drawing the outline of pulp and tooth area and in measurement of the radiographs. Then, the pulp/tooth area ratio was calculated. A correlation coefficient (r) -0.475 (p<0.05) with linear regression was found using the Pearson correlation. The formula for age estimation was: Age = 78.895-270.614(AR), when AR is the pulp/ tooth area ratio of the maxillary canines. The coefficient of determination (R2) 0.225 and the standard error of estimation (SEE) was 13.664 years. Then, when the equation was tested in a test group (88 periapical radiographs) the mean error (ME) was -4.40 years and the mean absolute error (MAE) was 13.06 years. This is the first study using the pulp/tooth area ratio of maxillary canines for age estimation in Thailand. The equation developed in this study should be useful for age estimation in forensic anthropological and forensic science cases, particularly in Thai people over 20 years.
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