Dental maturity as an indicator of chronological age: radiographic assessment of dental age in a brazilian population

Abstract

Objective:The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the applicability of the methods proposed by Nolla and by Nicodemo and colleagues for assessing dental age and its correlation to chronological age.Methods:Panoramic radiographs of 360 patients from the city of Fortaleza (CE, Brazil) aged 7-15 years were used to assess the associations between dental and chronological age. Data were submitted to statistical analysis using the BioEstat 2.0 (2000) software. Student-Neuman-Keuls test was performed and Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated at 5% significance level.Results:When the Nolla method was applied, the mean difference between true and estimated age for males and females was underestimated. The use of the method proposed by Nicodemo and colleagues also resulted in underestimation, although it was more evident in male subjects. The correlation coefficients between chronological age and estimated dental age were high, with mean values ranging between 0.87 and 0.91 for males and between 0.84 and 0.93 for females.Conclusion:Although both methods proved to be reliable in estimating age, the use of correction factors is recommended.

Use of the Chronological Dental Mineralization Table of Nicodemo, Moraes and MediciFilho (1974) to Estimate Age by Undergraduate Dentistry Students

“…As for the agreement, the radiographs of younger individuals, as in radiographs 1 and 3, which respectively correspond to the age of 12 years and 0 months to 7 years and 10 months, showed higher percentages of agreement, corroborating the results of other studies that also used the Chronological Mineralization Table of Nicodemo, Moraes and Medici Filho (1974) [16,21].…”

Age estimation based on the stage of mineralization of third molars on orthopantomograms

“…It has been reported that the mean and maximum ages in most stages of mineralization are slightly superior in the female gender, which suggest a faster development among females (CANTEKIN et a., 2012). A confirmatory result was found in a study with children from the state of Maranhão, Brazil, in which the girls presented a more accelerated formation of permanent teeth and higher mean dental ages than those of boys (KURITA et al, 2007). In another study with Caucasian Brazilians of both sexes, the teeth of females presented an earlier degree of mineralization than those of males, without significant differences between maxillary and mandibular teeth (KVAAL et al, 1995).…”

“…et al ANDRADE;FERREIRA, 2011;KURITA et al, 2007). Estimation of dental age can thus be a valuable instrument for forensic estimation of chronological age (ANDRADE; FERREIRA, 2011).…”

Accuracy of Four Dental Age Estimation Methods in Southern Indian Children

“…Numerous studies have been done using Demirjian et al, method in several populations and consistent overestimation [2,3,8,[19][20][21][22] and underestimation [23] in dental age was observed. Similarly Willems method also showed significant overestimation [24,25], and underestimation [26], Nolla's method also showed overestimation in young children [27][28][29][30][31], and underestimation [32] and significant difference in one sex [33,34] in previous studies. In the present study, Demirjian's and Nolla methods overestimated DA and Willems method underestimated DA.…”