Age Estimation From Pulp Cavity Analysis Using Cone Beam Computed Tomographic Images for Forensic Purposes

August 29, 2022 updated by: Christine Atef Banoub Beshara, Cairo University

Forensic Assessment of Age From Pulp Cavity Using Cone Beam Computed Tomographic Images (An Observational Cross- Sectional Study)

Forensic odontology is a branch of forensic science that utilizes a dentist's expertise in identification of individuals for whom traditional methods of identification aren't accessible due to a lack of common identification features. Medico-legal issues, natural catastrophes such as tsunamis, earthquakes, and explosions, death verification in monetary concerns, religious and social reasons are all examples of situations that require identification. Age, stature, sex and ethnicity are the "big four" determinants of personal identification. Dental age estimation has the benefit of that teeth are less influenced by external physical, chemical, or mechanical variables than other portions of the skeleton. Secondary dentin deposition in human teeth progresses with age that results in reduction in the size of the tooth pulp cavity which can be assessed as an age indicator. A significant relationship between pulp width and age was originally discovered in a study by Kvaal et al., 1995 who created regression formulae for age prediction using periapical radiograph by measuring of pulp size. Also, the assessment of pulp/tooth volume ratio relying on the gradual reduction in pulp volume produced by continuous apposition of dentin during life is one well-known dental age estimation approach. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) provides accurate three-dimensional images of the maxillofacial area. In addition, CBCT may be beneficial in some forensic situations, as it has massive benefits for post-mortem forensic imaging, as it offers skeletal imaging with high resolution, cheap cost, simplicity and portability. CBCT can be used in forensic age assessment since it is non-invasive and allows for the reconstruction of images in multiple planes to display anatomical and imaged elements in distinct planes. Our hypothesis is that pulp space analysis is totally different between different ages and that there is a correlation between age and pulp space analysis that could be of a forensic significance for age estimation in the investigated population.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

In this observational cross-sectional study, cone beam computed tomography scans will be recruited that are with the required complement of teeth and in the age range between 20 and 60 years then, correlation between chronological age versus cone beam computed tomography age through pulp space analysis will be done by two methods which are linear measurements and volumetric measurements of pulp and tooth size. First, linear measurements will be done according to kvaal's et al approach, measurements from mandibular lateral incisors, canines and first premolars and maxillary central and lateral incisors and second premolars were most strongly correlated with age, so these teeth will be selected for the investigation. A paired t-test on these measurements showed that there were no significant differences between teeth from the left and the right side of the jaw. Consequently, teeth from either the left or the right side will be chosen, whichever will be best suited for measurement. Not knowing the age and gender of the individual, the following measurements will be carried out on the radiographs of all six types of teeth: the maximum tooth length (T), pulp length and root length (R) on the mesial surface from the enamel-cementum junction (ECJ) to the root apex, the root and pulp width both at the ECJ (level A) and at the midroot level, i.e. halfway between the ECJ and the apex of the root (level C), as well as at the midpoint between the ECJ and midroot level (level B). Second, volumetric Measurements will be done to calculate pulp/ tooth volume ratio.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Anticipated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
25

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

20 years to 60 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

CBCT scans that meet the eligibility criteria for age estimation

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • CBCT scans for male and female Egyptians between the ages of 20 and 60 years.
  • CBCT scans with the required complement of teeth.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • CBCT scans that lack a proof of age or date of birth.
  • CBCT scans with the required teeth showing pathological processes in the apical bone.
  • CBCT scans with overlying teeth.
  • CBCT scans in which the required teeth were filled, prosthetically restored or carious.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Single group
Single group will be selected for age estimation using CBCT Scans
Radiation: CBCT
Cone beam computed tomographic images selected for age estimation

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pulp/ tooth volume ratio CBCT age to be correlated with chronological age
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Pulp/ tooth volume ratio CBCT age to be correlated with chronological age using volumetric segmentation of CBCT software in mm3.
Through study completion, an average of 1 year

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Analysis of pulp size using linear measurements.
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Analysis of pulp size using linear measurements tool of CBCT software in mm.
Through study completion, an average of 1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Cairo University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Christine Beshara, Cairo University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
April 2, 2022

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
November 1, 2022

Study Completion (Anticipated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 1, 2022

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
November 8, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 17, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
November 22, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
August 30, 2022

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 29, 2022

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
August 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • Christine Atef ORAD 7-1-1

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings