Age estimation using pulp-to-tooth area ratio in maxillary anterior teeth: A study on a Kerala population using Cameriere’s method
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Context: Precise age assessment is essential in forensic identification. This study assessed the relationship between pulp-to-tooth area ratio (PTAR) and chronological age and developed population-specific regression models for individuals from Kerala, India. Aim: To estimate the age by pulp-to-tooth area ratio in maxillary anterior teeth using Cameriere's method in the Kerala sample population. Settings and Design: A retrospective, cross-sectional study utilised digital intra-oral periapical radiographs to estimate age by Cameriere's approach in persons aged 21 to 70 years, focussing on maxillary anterior teeth. Methods and Material: = 170 per tooth). The accuracy was evaluated by mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE) and compared with existing models. Statistical Analysis Used: -test, Pearson's correlation, linear regression, MAE, and RMSE were used to evaluate model performance. Results: The newly derived Indian regression equations demonstrated MAEs of 5.627 years for central incisors, 7.608 years for lateral incisors, and 5.890 years for canines. The canine showed the best accuracy, outperforming Cameriere's (MAE = 7.223, 6.699) and Jeevan's (MAE = 6.549) equations. All new models produced acceptable age estimates (MAE <10 years) across age groups. Conclusions: PTAR-based regression models are effective for age estimation in the Kerala population, with the canine providing the most reliable estimates.
Institution: Yenepoya University
Language: English
Subfield: Archeology
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7117359381