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Age‐Progressive Changes in Pulp Widths and Root Lengths During Adulthood: A Study of American Blacks and Whites
Author(s) -
Woods Marjorie A.,
Robinson Quinton C.,
Harris Edward F.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
gerodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1741-2358
pISSN - 0734-0664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-2358.1990.tb00257.x
Subject(s) - medicine , root (linguistics) , pulp (tooth) , dentistry , gerontology , demography , linguistics , sociology , philosophy
The intertwined effects of normal aging processes and time‐progressive diseases produce systematic changes in many oral and dental tissues. This cross‐sectional study of pulp dimensions and root lengths in sound teeth tested for changes with age in adulthood while controlling for differences in gender and race (black, white). Age was the paramount determinant of pulp size which decreases via the accumulation of secondary dentin. In some instances the rate of change increases in older adults with an inflection point at 35–40 years of age. In contrast, root lengths are statistically independent of age once gender (male > female) and race (black > white) are controlled. Causes of the lack of association with age are discussed.