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Abstract
Background: Few studies have examined the effect of nutrition on tooth development in subadults.
Aim: The study investigates the association between nutritional status, sex and tooth development.
Material and methods: This study was conducted on 390 (195 males, 195 females) impacted mandibular third molars extracted from North Indian healthy patients aged between 17 and 21 years. Buccolingual ground sections were prepared and the distance between the margins of enamel and cementum were measured with a micrometer attached to a light microscope. Individual age was estimated by the BR regression equation. Age estimates were then compared to the chronological age of the individual to assess the accuracy of this procedure.
Results: The distance between the cementum and enamel between malnourished and well nourished North Indian subadults was statistically significantly different. No significant difference was found between chronological age and dental age for well nourished subjects while underestimation of the age was observed for malnourished individuals.
Conclusions: Thus nutritional status of the individual should be considered when the BR regression equation is applied in age estimation from impacted teeth.