Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Estimating age using the dentition plays a significant role in identification of the individual in forensic cases. Teeth are one of the most durable and strongest structures in the human body. The morphology and arrangement of teeth vary from person-to-person and is unique to an individual as are the fingerprints. Therefore, the use of dentition is the method of choice in the identification of the unknown. Root dentin translucency is considered to be one of the best parameters for dental age estimation. Traditionally, root dentin translucency was measured using calipers. Recently, the use of custom built software programs have been proposed for the same.
OBJECTIVE: The present study describes a method to measure root dentin translucency on sectioned teeth using a custom built software program Adobe Photoshop 7.0 version (Adobe system Inc, Mountain View California).
METHODS: A total of 50 single rooted teeth were sectioned longitudinally to derive a 0.25 mm uniform thickness and the root dentin translucency was measured using digital and caliper methods and compared. The Gustafson\'s morphohistologic approach is used in this study.
RESULTS: Correlation coefficients of translucency measurements to age were statistically significant for both the methods (P < 0.125) and linear regression equations derived from both methods revealed better ability of the digital method to assess age.
CONCLUSIONS: The custom built software program used in the present study is commercially available and widely used image editing software. Furthermore, this method is easy to use and less time consuming. The measurements obtained using this method are more precise and thus help in more accurate age estimation. Considering these benefits, the present study recommends the use of digital method to assess translucency for age estimation.
OBJECTIVE: The present study describes a method to measure root dentin translucency on sectioned teeth using a custom built software program Adobe Photoshop 7.0 version (Adobe system Inc, Mountain View California).
METHODS: A total of 50 single rooted teeth were sectioned longitudinally to derive a 0.25 mm uniform thickness and the root dentin translucency was measured using digital and caliper methods and compared. The Gustafson\'s morphohistologic approach is used in this study.
RESULTS: Correlation coefficients of translucency measurements to age were statistically significant for both the methods (P < 0.125) and linear regression equations derived from both methods revealed better ability of the digital method to assess age.
CONCLUSIONS: The custom built software program used in the present study is commercially available and widely used image editing software. Furthermore, this method is easy to use and less time consuming. The measurements obtained using this method are more precise and thus help in more accurate age estimation. Considering these benefits, the present study recommends the use of digital method to assess translucency for age estimation.
摘要：
背景：在法医案件中，使用牙列估计年龄在识别个体中起着重要作用。牙齿是人体中最耐用和最坚固的结构之一。牙齿的形态和排列因人而异，并且对于个人而言是独特的，指纹也是如此。因此,使用牙列是识别未知的首选方法。牙根牙本质半透明性被认为是牙齿年龄估计的最佳参数之一。传统上,使用卡尺测量根牙本质半透明性。最近,使用定制的软件程序已经提出了相同的。
目的：本研究描述了一种使用定制软件程序AdobePhotoshop7.0版本（AdobesystemInc，加州山景城）。
方法：纵向切开总共50颗单根牙齿，以得出0.25mm的均匀厚度，并使用数字和卡尺方法测量根牙本质的半透明性并进行比较。本研究采用Gustafson的形态组织学方法。
结果：两种方法的半透明测量与年龄的相关系数均具有统计学意义（P<0.125），两种方法得出的线性回归方程显示数字方法评估年龄的能力更好。
结论：本研究中使用的定制软件程序是市售的，广泛使用的图像编辑软件。此外，这种方法易于使用，耗时少。使用此方法获得的测量结果更精确，因此有助于更准确的年龄估计。考虑到这些好处,本研究建议使用数字方法评估年龄估计的半透明性.
目的：本研究描述了一种使用定制软件程序AdobePhotoshop7.0版本（AdobesystemInc，加州山景城）。
方法：纵向切开总共50颗单根牙齿，以得出0.25mm的均匀厚度，并使用数字和卡尺方法测量根牙本质的半透明性并进行比较。本研究采用Gustafson的形态组织学方法。
结果：两种方法的半透明测量与年龄的相关系数均具有统计学意义（P<0.125），两种方法得出的线性回归方程显示数字方法评估年龄的能力更好。
结论：本研究中使用的定制软件程序是市售的，广泛使用的图像编辑软件。此外，这种方法易于使用，耗时少。使用此方法获得的测量结果更精确，因此有助于更准确的年龄估计。考虑到这些好处,本研究建议使用数字方法评估年龄估计的半透明性.
