Forensic Assessment of Age From Pulp Cavity Using Cone Beam Computed Tomographic Images (An Observational Cross- Sectional Study)

Forensic odontology is a branch of forensic science that utilizes a dentist's expertise in identification of individuals for whom traditional methods of identification aren't accessible due to a lack of common identification features. Medico-legal issues, natural catastrophes such as tsunamis, earthquakes, and explosions, death verification in monetary concerns, religious and social reasons are all examples of situations that require identification. Age, stature, sex and ethnicity are the "big four" determinants of personal identification. Dental age estimation has the benefit of that teeth are less influenced by external physical, chemical, or mechanical variables than other portions of the skeleton. Secondary dentin deposition in human teeth progresses with age that results in reduction in the size of the tooth pulp cavity which can be assessed as an age indicator. A significant relationship between pulp width and age was originally discovered in a study by Kvaal et al., 1995 who created regression formulae for age prediction using periapical radiograph by measuring of pulp size. Also, the assessment of pulp/tooth volume ratio relying on the gradual reduction in pulp volume produced by continuous apposition of dentin during life is one well-known dental age estimation approach. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) provides accurate three-dimensional images of the maxillofacial area. In addition, CBCT may be beneficial in some forensic situations, as it has massive benefits for post-mortem forensic imaging, as it offers skeletal imaging with high resolution, cheap cost, simplicity and portability. CBCT can be used in forensic age assessment since it is non-invasive and allows for the reconstruction of images in multiple planes to display anatomical and imaged elements in distinct planes. Our hypothesis is that pulp space analysis is totally different between different ages and that there is a correlation between age and pulp space analysis that could be of a forensic significance for age estimation in the investigated population.