title: Age- and tooth-related pulp cavity signal intensity changes in healthy teeth: a comparative magnetic resonance imaging analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if it is possible to measure age-related pulp cavity signal intensity changes by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Dental pulp cavity signal intensities were assessed in 92 test subjects on the basis of MRI signal intensity measurements at freely defined regions of interest by using T1 gradient echo sequences before and after contrast-agent administration. Relative signal intensity differences were calculated and provided the basis for age- and tooth-related comparisons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant signal intensity differences were noted between the oldest (born between 1930 and 1959) and the youngest (born after 1980) test subjects and the other groups (P < .05). In addition, the first molars showed significantly lower signal intensity differences than the second molars (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Magnetic resonance imaging can be used to determine pulp cavity signal-intensity changes with age.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Neurology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. Bodo_Kress@med.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: Bodo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kress
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Buhl
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hähnel
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Eggers
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sartor
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmitter
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001641:Bicuspid / Q000502:physiology*; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000502:physiology*; D003791:Dental Pulp Test / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008963:Molar / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric