EVALUATION OF ALVEOLAR BONE LOSS MEASUREMENTS IN ADULTS FOR AGE ESTIMATION

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Identification and age estimation are very important in forensic medicine, anthropological sciences and law. Evaluation of tooth development is one of the most commonly used methods for age estimation. The accuracy of age estimation methods used in the advanced age range gradually decreases. Besides, whatever methods are used, the biggest limitation of age-at-death evaluation is that there is no identification method for the elderly.
PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate the applicability of buccal alveolar bone level in estimating chronological age using Cone Beam Computed Tomography images.
METHODS: In this study, linear measurements of buccal bone loss on coronal section images were acquired using cone beam computed tomography images of mandibular premolar teeth of 200 females and 189 males between 20 and 82 years old, without considering theirmedical conditions.
RESULTS: A statistically significant relationship was found between age and all mandibular premolar parameters (p<0.05). Age
estimation was more accurate when all teeth were used. No statistical differences between the left and right teeth (p=0.172, p=0.584) were found, but gender significantly affected the independent variables, with males showing higher BBL values (p=0.008, p<0.001, p=0.006, p=0.016).
CONCLUSION: The results suggest that BBL is correlated with age and can be used for forensic age estimation.