Abstract
Objective: This retrospective in-vitro study investigated tooth age effect on dental hard-tissue conditions.
Methods: Unidentified extracted premolars (n=1500) were collected and their individual age was estimated (10-100 (+/- 10) years old (yo)) using established dental forensic methods Dental caries, fluorosis and tooth wear (TW) were assessed using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS; 0-5 for crown and 0-2 for root), Thylstrup-Fejerskov (TFI; 0-9) and Basic Erosive Wear Examination (BEWE; 0-3) indices, respectively. Staining and color were assessed using the modified-Lobene (MLI) (0-3) and VITA shade (B1-C4) indices, respectively. Relationships between indices and age were tested using regression models.
Results: Starting at age similar to 10yo, presence of caries increased from 35% to 90% at similar to 50yo (coronal), and from 0% to 35% at similar to 80yo (root). Caries severity increased from ICDAS 0.5 to 2 at similar to 40yo and from ICDAS 0 to 0.5 at similar to 60yo for coronal and root caries, respectively. Presence of TW increased from 25% (occlusal) and 15% (smooth-surfaces) to 100% at similar to 80yo. TW severity increased from BEWE 0.5 to 2 at similar to 50yo (occlusal) and similar to 0.3 to 1.5 at similar to 50yo (smooth-surfaces). Percentage and severity of fluorosis decreased from 70% to 10% at similar to 80yo, and from TFI 1 to 0 at similar to 90yo, respectively. Percentage of extrinsic staining increased from 0% to 85% at similar to 80yo and its severity increased from MLI 0 to 2 at similar to 70yo. Color changed from A3 to B3 at similar to 50yo (crown), and from C2 to A4 at similar to 85yo (root).
Conclusions: Aging is proportionally related to the severity of caries, TW, staining, and inversely to dental fluorosis. Teeth become darker with age.