Age-related changes in tooth dimensions in adults in Shiraz, Iran

Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to determine the biometric dimensions of three human permanent teeth in the occlusal/incisal-cervical and apical, buccolingual, and mesiodistal directions, and its relationship with age in adults in Shiraz, Iran. Materials and Methods: The samples included 50 upper canines, 50 maxillary first premolars, and 50 maxillary second molars, extracted from patients aged 25–55 years. Total length, crown labial surface length, crown palatal surface length, crown mesiodistal width, root length, and some other biometrical characteristics of the teeth were measured by using a Vernier caliper with 0.05-mm accuracy. The samples were divided into two age groups: patients aged below 45 years (younger adults group), and those aged over 45 years (older adults group). The data were analyzed by using independent t-test. P < 0.05 was considered as the significance level. Results: Most parameters such as the total length, crown mesiodistal and labiopalatal width, as well as the root length decreased in older adults group in all the three tested permanent teeth. Conclusion: During a lifetime, the crown length, mesiodistal, and buccolingual dimensions seem to decrease because of the physiological and pathological tooth wear. The tooth wear in a mesiodistal dimension is more frequent in posterior teeth than in the anterior ones.