title: Estimation of age based on tooth cementum annulations: A comparative study using light, polarized, and phase contrast microscopy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The identification of living or deceased persons using unique traits and characteristics of the teeth and jaws is a cornerstone of forensic science. Teeth have been used to estimate age both in the young and old, as well as in the living and dead. Gradual structural changes in teeth throughout life are the basis for age estimation. Tooth cementum annulation (TCA) is a microscopic method for the determination of an individual's age based on the analysis of incremental lines of cementum.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare ages estimated using incremental lines of cementum as visualized by bright field microscopy, polarized microscopy, and phase contrast microscopy with the actual age of subject and to determine accuracy and feasibility of the method used.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cementum annulations of 60 permanent teeth were analyzed after longitudinal ground sections were made in the mesiodistal plane. The incremental lines were counted manually using a light, polarized and phase contrast microscopy. Ages were estimated and then compared with the actual age of individual.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of variance (ANOVA), Student's t-test, the Pearson product-moment corre (PPMCC) and regression analysis were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PPMCC value r = 0.347, 0.542 and 0.989 were obtained using light, polarized and phase contrast microscopy methods respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was concluded that incremental lines of cementum were most clearly visible under a phase contrast microscope, followed by a polarized microscope, and then a light microscope when used for age estimation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, BRS Dental College and General Hospital, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Prabhpreet
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Institute of Dental Sciences, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Madhusudan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Astekar
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Army Dental Corps, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Jappreet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Daswani Dental College and Research Centre, Kota, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Karandeep Singh
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Arora
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Himachal Institute of Dental Sciences, Himachal Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Gagandeep
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bhalla
keywords: Age estimation; annulations; cementum lines; permanent teeth; phase contrast microcscopy; polarized microscopy
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