ABSTRACT
Background: Age estimation through dental maturity indicators is relatively more accurate, reliable, and valid for living as well as dead individuals. It acts as an important tool in diagnosis and treatment planning in clinical as well as in forensic dentistry. There are various methods to estimate the dental age. Out of which, Demirjian's method has been widely used in various populations. However, there is a dearth of literature on Indian population comparing Demirjian's method to Cameriere's method. Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of Demirjian's and Cameriere's age estimation methods to chronological age in growing children using orthopantomograph (OPG). Setting and Design: The sample consisted of digital OPGs of 280 children in Navi Mumbai aged 5–16 years. Materials and Methods: Digital OPGs were used to assess the dental maturity of seven mandibular left teeth using Demirjian and Cameriere's method and were compared to the chronological age. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed using Student's t tests. Result: Irrespective of gender, dental age estimated by Cameriere's method (mean 10.23 ± 2.79 years), underestimated the chronological age (mean 11.74 ± 2.86 years) for overall population which showed statistically significant difference. Demirjian's method overestimated (mean 12.24 ± 3.06 years) the chronological age for the overall population but was statistically insignificant. Conclusion: Demirjian's method is more closely in correlation with the chronological age of growing children as compared to the Cameriere method when applied to children of age 5–16 years in Navi Mumbai.
ABSTRACT
Background: The hard palate is an essential part of human skull, the detailed knowledge of which plays an important role in the passive articulation of speech. Methods: The present study was conducted on 65 dry skulls from the department of anatomy, MVJMC & RH, Bangalore. With vernier caliper, palatine length, palatine breadth and heights were measured. Palatine index and palatine height index were calculated. Results: Mean palatine length was 48.47 ± 4.66 mm. Mean palatine breadth was 36 ± 4.41 mm and height was 8.62 ± 2.76 mm. According to the palatine index range, 66% of the hard palate belongs to leptostaphyline, 18.5% belongs to mesostaphyline and 15. 5% was brachystaphyline. As per palatine height index, 72.3% of hard palate showed chamestaphyline followed by 26.1% orthostaphyline and 1.6% hypistaphyline. Conclusions: These observations can be utilised for ethnic and racial classification of crania, anthropological studies, fabricating complete maxillary dentures for edentulous patients and performing certain surgical procedures in hard palate & soft palate.