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Introduction: The purpose of this study was to compare root and root canal width measurements between digital intraoral radiography (IOR) and micro-computed tomography (μCT). The accuracy of IOR measurements of canine mandibular molars was scrutinized to assess feasibility of developing a model to estimate animal age based on dentinal thickness., Materials and Methods: Thirty-nine canine mandibular first molars were imaged using μCT and IOR. For each tooth, the root and root canal width of the mesial and distal roots were measured by a single observer at 3 marked sites on μCT and IOR. Two different software programs were used to measure the radiographs. The radiograph measurements were compared to each other and to the μCT measurements. The μCT images were considered the anatomic reference standard for structural representation., Results: The data collected demonstrated IOR bias and variability throughout all measurement sites, with some sites being more affected than others. Neither IOR system produced unbiased measurements that closely reflected the μCT measurements consistently. The overall lack of agreement between measurements demonstrated the difficulties in developing a standardized protocol for measuring root and root canal width for the first molar teeth in dogs., Conclusion: Developing a protocol to accurately measure and compare μCT and IOR measurements is challenging. Designing a measurement system that would allow for universal application to age dogs would require continued research utilizing a standardized approach to overcome the limitations identified in this article.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of cheek tooth occlusal surface morphology as an indicator of age in the horse using a blinded cross-sectional design. Twenty horses of varying age, breed and sex were used. Horses of known age (foaling date) were euthanized for reasons other than dental disease. Following disarticulation of the head and sectioning of the mandibles, cheek teeth were cleaned using running water and photographs were taken of each arcade. Using a computer-based program, the total surface area of each premolar and molar, the outer enamel ridge perimeter distance, infundibular surface areas and perimeter distances were measured. Further anatomical data were calculated from these measurements and a statistical analysis of the relationship between horse age and cheek tooth occlusal morphology was performed. Results indicated that multiple anatomical regions within the occlusal surface of the equine cheek tooth can be used as an indicator of age. There are important differences between mandibular and maxillary teeth as well as between teeth in the same dental arcade. Horse size is also of significance. The mesial infundibular surface area as a percentage of the total surface area of tooth 111, and the mesiodistal length of 1/2/3/4 09 teeth, most closely approximates age within our mathematical model. Cheek tooth morphological data can be used to predict age in horses that possess all their permanent dentition. In cases in which the age of horses cannot be accurately determined from incisor examination, cheek teeth may be used.