Three-dimensional verification of the radiographic visibility of the root pulp used for forensic age estimation in mandibular third molars.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the reliability of panoramic radiography (OPG) using age estimation method using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) verification in the evaluation of radiographic visibility of root pulp (RPV) of mandibular third molars for age estimation.

METHODS: CBCT and OPG images of 429 mandibular third molars from 290 patients were evaluated. RPV of fully mineralized mandibular third molars was evaluated as stages 0, 1, 2, and 3 for both imaging methods. Descriptive statistics were performed separately for stages by age for both genders. The consistency of these scores with chronological age was evaluated for both imaging methods. The reliability of OPG evaluation was also analyzed with CBCT scores. Results Spearman's rho correlation demonstrated a positive correlation between RPV and chronological age for both genders and for OPG and CBCT evaluation. Considering the minimum ages of both imaging methods, all stages were above the age of 18 except for the female group of Stage 2 and all Stage 0. For the comparison of OPG and CBCT RPV Staging scores, the κ score was found to be 0.312 ( p < 0.001), indicating a fair agreement.

CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the absence of Stage 3 at age of 18 and under might have a forensic value for RPV age estimation method. Considering the fair agreement in the verification of OPG scores, it is not possible to determine the exact age with the RPV detected in OPG images, the use of CBCT for the RPV evaluation is recommended to available cases.