Dental Radiography for Age Estimation: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Purpose: This study was to investigate the types of imaging modalities, analytical methods for age estimation, and the age of the subjects in research on age estimation using dental radiography through a scoping review, and to investigate the overall trends in age estimation studies. Materials and Methods: A scoping review was designed according to the Arksey and O’Malley guidelines and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement. Three electronic databases were used as search sources (Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library). Studies were classified according to the three main components of the research question. “What are the imaging modalities, analytical methods, and target age in dental imaging-based age estimation studies?” Result: The final 198 studies were selected by two reviewers. The most common imaging modality used in studies was panoramic radiography (69.7%), and studies using cone-beam computed tomography have increased over time. Analytical methods for age estimation were 62.6% in studies based on tooth development and 26.3% in studies using pulp/tooth ratio. The subject age was 27.8% for children and 27.3% for adults. Studies conducted in all age groups comprised the smallest category (5.2%). Conclusion: Panoramic radiography has been the most used types of imaging modalities for age estimation, and the most common analytical method was analysis of tooth development. Most studies targeted specific ages, and very few involved all age groups. Dental age estimation studies should be carried out with appropriate consideration of the imaging modality that is analyzed, the methods that are used, and the age that is targeted.