title: Age estimation from physiological changes of teeth: A reliable age marker?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Age is an essential factor in establishing the identity of a person. Teeth are one of the most durable and resilient part of skeleton. Gustafson (1950) suggested the use of six retrogressive dental changes that are seen with increasing age.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to evaluate the results and to check the reliability of modified Gustafson's method for determining the age of an individual.
  
  
  METHODS
  Total 70 patients in the age group of 20-65 years, undergoing extraction were included in this present work. The ground sections of extracted teeth were prepared and examined under the microscope. Modified Gustafson's criteria were used for the estimation of age. Degree of attrition, root translucency, secondary dentin deposition, cementum apposition, and root resorption were measured. A linear regression formula was obtained using different statistical equations in a sample of 70 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age difference of total 70 cases studied was ±2.64 years. Difference of actual and calculated age was significant and was observed at 5% level of significance, that is, t-cal > t-tab (t-cal = 7.72). P < 0.05, indicates that the results were statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study concludes that Gustafson's method is a reliable method for age estimation with some proposed modifications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, D.J College of Dental Sciences and Research, Modinagar, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Nishant
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Teerthanker Mahaveer Dental College and Research Centre, TMU, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Neeraj
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Grover
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Kalka Dental College, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Navin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Puri
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, D.J College of Dental Sciences and Research, Modinagar, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Sanjeet
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Kalka Dental College, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Swati
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arora
keywords: Age determination; modified Gustafson's criteria; physiological changes of teeth