Age estimation using the ratio of dental pulp to tooth volume by CT scan in dogs
- Author:
Mohammad HONARJOO
1
;
Sarang SOROORI
;
Mohammad MOLAZEM
;
Majid MASOUDIFARD
;
Alireza BAHONAR
;
Seyyed Hosein Modarres TONEKABONY
Author Information
- Publication Type:Research Report
- From:Journal of Veterinary Science 2025;26(1):e8-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objective:This study examined the association between chronological age and pulp to tooth (P/T) volume ratio in dogs using computed tomography (CT) of the right maxillary canine and right maxillary fourth premolar (PM4) teeth.
Methods:Ninety-five canine skulls, aged five to 216 months, were examined using a twoslice CT scan machine. Volumetric analyses of the right maxillary canine and PM4 were performed. Statistical analysis, including Spearman's correlation and regression analysis, was conducted to assess the relationship between age and the P/T volume ratio.
Results:This study included 60 male and 35 female dogs, with no significant age difference between genders (p = 0.655). A strong negative correlation was observed between age and the P/T volume ratio for the right maxillary canine (r = 0.88, p < 0.001) and PM4 (r = 0.77, p < 0.001) teeth. Logarithmic regression models provided a better fit for age prediction (R2 = 0.78 for the right maxillary canine, R2 = 0.67 for PM4) compared to linear models.
Conclusions:and Relevance: CT-based volumetric analysis of the P/T ratio in the right maxillary canine and PM4 teeth offers a precise, non-invasive method for estimating the age of dogs. This technique can improve the accuracy of age estimations, particularly in forensic and clinical settings, providing valuable insights for veterinarians and researchers.
