Year : 2018

Volume : Volume 9

Issue : Issue 3

Address for correspondence :
Dr. Chandan DN.
Chandan@gmail.com

Abstract

Background:  In the past various forensic odontology methods have been employed for the age estimation of an individual. Tooth is one of the best methods for the same when the remains of the individual were destroyed due to natural or unnatural reasons. In the past, it had been proved to be valuable. Cementum (alternate light and dark bands) a part of tooth has been founded proportionate to the age of the patient in number. Hence the present study was planned to determine the role of tooth cementum annulation in the age estimation. Materials and Methods: The sample size for the present study was thirty extracted teeth. Sociodemographic details as well as the chief complaint of the patients were recorded. Formalin was used to preserve the teeth overnight. Before the sectioning, teeth were washed under the tap water. After the sectioning, the photographs of the extracted teeth were taken to count the lines under 10 × objective of light microscope. Observer was blinded regarding the age of the patient during analysis so that chances of bias can be avoided. Statistical analysis was done using SPPS version 22.  Results: It was found that mean incremental lines and age of the tooth eruption are significant (p<0.01) in predicting the ages. There was no significant difference was detected over the observed and predicted ages.  Conclusion: The results of the present study concluded that quantification of cementum annuli is a moderately reliable means which can be used for age estimation in humans.

Keywords: Tooth, age estimation, cementum annulation, forensic odontology.