Age estimation in adults by dental imaging assessment systematic review.

IMPORTANCE: The need to rely on proper, simple, and accurate methods for age estimation in adults is still a world-wide issue. It has been well documented that teeth are more resistant than bones to the taphonomic processes, and that the use of methods for age estimation based on dental imaging assessment are not only less invasive than those based on osseous analysis, but also have shown similar or superior accuracy in adults. OBJECTIVES: To summarise the results of some of the recently most recently cited methods for dental age estimation in adults, based on odontometric dental imaging analysis, to establish which is more accurate, accessible, and simple. EVIDENCE REVIEW: A literature search from several databases was conducted from January 1995 to July 2016 with previously defined inclusion criteria. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of this review, it could be possible to suggest pulp/tooth area ratio calculation from first, upper canines and other single rooted teeth (lower premolars, upper central incisors), and a specific statistical analysis that considers the non-linear production of secondary dentine with age, as a reliable, easy, faster, and predictable method for dental age estimation in adults. The second recommended method is the pulp/tooth width-length ratio calculation. The use of specific population formulae is recommended, but to include data of individuals from different groups of population in the same analysis is not discouraged. A minimum sample size of at least 120 participants is recommended to obtain more reliable results. Methods based on volume calculation are time consuming and still need improvement.

Reliability and repeatability of pulp volume reconstruction through three different volume calculations.

OBJECTIVE: To test the variability of the volume measurements when different segmentation methods are applied in pulp volume reconstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Osirix® and ITK-SNAP software were used. Different segmentation methods (Part A) and volume approaches (Part B) were tested in a sample of 21 dental CBCT's from upper canines. Different combinations of the data set were also tested on one lower molar and one upper canine (Part C) to determine the variability of the results when automatic segmentation is performed. RESULTS: Although the obtained results show correlation among them(r > 0.75), there is no evidence that these methods are sensitive enough to detect small volume changes in structures such as the dental pulp canal (Part A and Part B). Automatic segmentation is highly susceptible to be affected by small variations in the setting parameters (Part C). CONCLUSIONS: Although the volumetric reconstruction and pulp/tooth volume ratio has not shown better results than methods based on dental radiographs, it is worth to persevere with the research in this area with new development in imaging techniques.