Assessment of dental age estimation methods applied to Brazilian children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Objectives: To review the scientific literature of studies on dental age estimation methods applied to Brazilian children. Methods: A systematic literature review was designed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020136170). Six scientific databases were used as primary search sources (PubMed, Scopus, LILACS, SciELO, Embase and Web of Science) and two databases (Open Grey and Open Thesis) were searched to partially select the “grey literature.” Only cross-sectional studies were included. The risk of bias was assessed by means of Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tools for Systematic Reviews. The standardized mean difference (SMD) between the estimated dental and chronological ages was meta-analysed via random effects model. Results: The search resulted in 2,527 studies, from which 13 met the eligibility criteria. Out of the eligible studies, 76.92% had low risk of bias and high methodological quality. Ten studies provided proper information to be included in the meta-analysis.The methods and their SMD between estimated and chronological ages were: Willems’=0.05, Lilequist and Lundberg’s = −0.11, Nolla’s = 0.22, Mornstad’s = 0.27, Cameriere’s = −0.31, Demirjian’s = 0.74 and Haavikko’s = −0.87. Conclusion: Although originally trained in populations worldwide, most of the international methods for radiographical dental age estimation had optimal performance in Brazilian children.

Testing international techniques for the radiographic assessment of third molar maturation

“…The increasing error rates following sample aging may be justified by the age-related parameter of choice (i.e. dental development) that progresses to an end toward the age of 21 ( 22 ). Inferences on the age of majority, however, are the type of outcome not supported by the present study after applying the Belgian equations in a Brazilian population.…”

Evidence-based mapping of third molar techniques for age estimation applied to Brazilian adolescents – a systematic review

“…Naturally, systematic reviews progressively took place to compile performances pooling together different populations and their estimates from a single method (Santiago et al, 2018). The other way around, systematic reviews also were structured targeting a single specific population and screening the performance of different methods over it (Franco et al, 2020b) The latter, in particular, is only feasible when several methods were previously applied for validation testing in the target population. The advantage of this approach is having a quantified overview of the available methods and even evidences to find out the method with best performance.…”

“…Studies have corroborated the application of international dental age estimation techniques in populations other than the original (Franco et al, 2020b). While for some populations validation studies have confirmed the applicability of international methods (Thevissen et al, 2010), in other populations corrections are recommends to improve the techniques (Prasad and Kala, 2019).…”

“…While for some populations validation studies have confirmed the applicability of international methods (Thevissen et al, 2010), in other populations corrections are recommends to improve the techniques (Prasad and Kala, 2019). Usually, the performance of third molar techniques are investigated country-specific by poling together performances as function of populations (Franco et al, 2020b). Pooling the performance of methods as function of a target population (Franco et al, 2020b), on the other hand, could enable a deeper look into practice.…”

“…Usually, the performance of third molar techniques are investigated country-specific by poling together performances as function of populations (Franco et al, 2020b). Pooling the performance of methods as function of a target population (Franco et al, 2020b), on the other hand, could enable a deeper look into practice.…”