Cementum Thickness as a Parameter for Age Estimation
Abstract
Aim: The aim of the present study was to verify the reliability of the method using a single parameter of cementum thickness in a decalcified section of the tooth stained by a cresyl violet stain.
Materials and Methods: In the present study, 140 extracted teeth from individuals with known age were studied. The decalcified section was stained by a cresyl violet stain and observed under research microscopy. The average thickness of cementum was measured using a digital scale. The age was estimated using a single parameter based on the correlation of cementum thickness with the chronological age.
Conclusion: Estimating age by measuring cementum thickness is a reliable method. The use of a cresyl violet stain for decalcified sections of the tooth makes cementum and the incremental lines more prominent thus helping to measure cementum thickness more accurately.