title: Effect of nutrition on coronal displacement of cementum in impacted teeth.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have examined the effect of nutrition on tooth development in subadults.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study investigates the association between nutritional status, sex and tooth development.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted on 390 (195 males, 195 females) impacted mandibular third molars extracted from North Indian healthy patients aged between 17 and 21 years. Buccolingual ground sections were prepared and the distance between the margins of enamel and cementum were measured with a micrometer attached to a light microscope. Individual age was estimated by the BR regression equation. Age estimates were then compared to the chronological age of the individual to assess the accuracy of this procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The distance between the cementum and enamel between malnourished and well nourished North Indian subadults was statistically significantly different. No significant difference was found between chronological age and dental age for well nourished subjects while underestimation of the age was observed for malnourished individuals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thus nutritional status of the individual should be considered when the BR regression equation is applied in age estimation from impacted teeth.
authors.affiliation: drbalwantraissct@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: Balwant
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000366:Age Determination by Teeth; D017677:Age Distribution; D003739:Dental Cementum / Q000473:pathology*; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000473:pathology*