A Comparative Evaluation of Chronological Age with Dental Age Based on Volumetric Analysis of Pulp-Tooth Ratio of Maxillary Anterior Teeth: A Cone-beam Computed Tomography Study.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Forensic odontology constitutes a critical discipline in legal investigations, facilitating human identification and age estimation through the analysis of dental records and advanced imaging modalities. Age estimation is essential in forensic and clinical applications, with dental development being a reliable indicator due to its resistance to environmental factors. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the chronological age based on volumetric analysis of pulp-tooth ratio (PTR) of maxillary anterior teeth by using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in children and adolescents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was conducted on CBCT scans of 50 patients, comprising 25 boys and 25 girls, within the age range of 8-18 years. Volumetric assessment of the pulp and calcified tissues was carried out for the maxillary central incisors and canines. The obtained data were subsequently subjected to correlation and regression analyses to evaluate the relationship between dental tissue volumes and chronological age. RESULTS: The correlation and regression analyses showed high correlation and high estimation of dental age based on volumetric analysis of PTR of maxillary anterior teeth (central incisor and canine). However, estimation of dental age was found to be higher in central incisor than canine. CONCLUSION: The study confirms that the PTR is a reliable indicator for age estimation, with maxillary central incisors showing the strongest correlation with chronological age. The results underscore the applicability of PTR in forensic and clinical settings, where its integration can significantly enhance the precision and reliability of dental age estimation methodologies. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Volumetric analysis of the PTR using CBCT serves as a dependable and noninvasive technique for estimating age in pediatric and adolescent populations. Maxillary central incisors demonstrated the strongest correlation with chronological age, making them valuable markers in both forensic identification and clinical applications. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Mukhtar S, Abdullah A, Dwivedi S, et al. A Comparative Evaluation of Chronological Age with Dental Age Based on Volumetric Analysis of Pulp-Tooth Ratio of Maxillary Anterior Teeth: A Cone-beam Computed Tomography Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2026;19(8):951-956.