ABSTRACT
Identity and legal culpability hinges on age estimation in modern society. There are several biometric methods for accurate age determination that have validity in medico-legal proceedings globally. The accuracy of conventional methods should be reassessed periodically to ascertain validity in differing global societies. This study aims to evaluate the comparative accuracy of three age determination methods based on non-invasive radiographic odontometric data when applied to a sample of Saudi population. MethodsThis cross-sectional study is done on 350 subjects of Saudi Arabian population, aged between 4 and 16 years. The same set of radiographs is used in all three methods and the dental age estimation is done by trained examiners who determine the age using Demirjian’s, Willem’s and the London Atlas Method. Statistical analysis is done using the IBM SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) software (version 19). Significance of differences between the chronological age and the estimated dental age was calculated using paired ‘t’ test (P value of < 0.05 was considered significant. ResultsThe chronological age was above estimated age by all three methods used to assess male samples. Significant difference was seen with William's method (p=0.000) and the the London Atlas Method (p=0.000), and no significant difference was seen with Demirjian's method (p=0.102). Demirjian's method estimated the age above chronological age for females while the other two methods were below in their estimates. There were significant differences only between the London Atlas estimates and chronological age in females (p = 0.020). ConclusionsAge estimated by Demirjian’s method on Saudi population is most accurate among the methods tested. Boys showed more variations than girls when the ages were measured. Changing diet and socioeconomic factors influence growth and development of children, and this can alter the anticipated outcomes of age determination by mathematical methods.
ABSTRACT
Background: Accurate diagnosis of dental maturation help in diagnosis, treatment planning, and timing in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. Aim and Objective: The present study is undertaken to compare and correlate chronological age and dental age of patients with average, vertical, and horizontal facial types, and to find out any sex difference in dental age in different growth patterns and to evaluated the reliability of Willem's method in Indian population. Materials and Methods: Subjects in the age group of 8-10 years were screened from Out Patients Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics and from the various school of the City, were subjected to cephalometric radiography and orthopentomograms. Angular and linear measurements used included;-SN Go-Gn angle, J.R. (Jarabak ratio) and LAFH (lower anterior facial height), to group total sample of 150 children. Group 1 (average grower), Group 2 (vertical grower), and Group 3 (horizontal grower). Then dental age for each child in different group was calculated from OPG of each subject and compared with chronological age using Student t-test. Results: The results suggest a difference in dental age in subject with vertical and horizontal growers. Vertical grower showed earlier maturation compared to horizontal growth patterns. There was insignificant difference present when vertical grower and horizontal grower were compared with average growth pattern. Insignificant difference was found in dental age between males and females when compared to same growth pattern. Conclusion: Subjects with vertical growth pattern matured early than having the horizontal growth pattern in the same chronological age.