1Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral Pathology & Microbiology, School of Dental Sciences KIMS “Deemed to be university”, Karad
2Associate Professor, Department of Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge, School of Dental Sciences KIMS “Deemed to be university”, Karad
3Senior Lecturer, Department of Periodontology, School of Dental Sciences KIMS “Deemed to be university”, Karad
4HOD, Department of Oral Pathology & Microbiology, School of Dental Sciences KIMS “Deemed to be university”, Karad
5Associate Professor, Department of Oral Pathology & Microbiology, School of Dental Sciences, KIMS “Deemed to be university”, Karad
6Associate Professor, Department of Oral Pathology & Microbiology, School of Dental Sciences, KIMS “Deemed to be university”, Karad
7Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral Pathology & Microbiology, School of Dental Sciences, KIMS “Deemed to be university”, Karad
*Corresponding author: Dr. Sushma. Bommanavar (MDS-Senior Lecturer) Department of Oral Pathology & Microbiology, School of Dental Sciences, KIMS “Deemed to be university”, Karad, Phone: -+91 9673695306, Email: drsushopath@gmail.com
Online published on 7 May, 2019.
Cementum formed as continuous process throughout life consists of alternate light and dark bands known as incremental lines of Salter. Using different types of microscopy in forensic odontology, the number of these incremental lines is used to estimate the age of an individual.
To examine the correlation between age and tooth cemental annulations using light and polarizing microscopy with Adobe Photoshop Software 7 Version and to compare both the methods to ascertain the most reliable method of studying cementum.
A cross sectional descriptive, double blind study was conducted during the period of March 2016 to March 2017. 60 extracted monoradicular teeth from individuals in the age group of 20–80 years (Females=42, Males =18) were randomly collected and longitudinal ground sections of the teeth were prepared, mounted and examined under light and polarizing microscope. Digital images were captured, magnified & cemental lines were counted using the Adobe Photoshop 7 Version by two anonymous oral pathologists who had no idea of the research study. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 10 version.
There was a strong positive correlation between the estimated age and calculated age when light microscopy was used (r=0.725, p =0.00). The correlation was less with polarizing microscopy (r=0.697, p=0.00) and the cemental annulations were better appreciated and easily counted using the Adobe Photoshop Software 7 Version.
Our findings suggest that Adobe Photoshop Software 7 Version provides better visibility of counting the cemental lines and therefore can estimate accurate age of an individual in forensic Odontology.
Tooth cemental annulations, Age estimation, Adobe photoshop 7 version, Polarizing microscopy, Light microscopy
