Accuracy of Demirjian’s, Willems, Nolla’s and Modified Cameriere’s Dental Age Estimation Methods in Young Western Indian Children- A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: In forensic odontology, Dental Age (DA) assessment has gained popularity, since it is less variable than other indices and is less impacted by environmental variables. One of the methods used in estimating dental development is radiological method which is most practical and reliable.

Aim: To compare accuracy of Demirjian’s, Willems, Nolla’s and modified Cameriere’s DA estimation methods in young western Indian children.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted in the Department of Paediatric and Preventive Dentistry, KM Shah Dental College and Hospital, Sumandeep University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India, from May 2014 to May 2017. A total of 224 orthopantograms (OPGs) of children aged between 3-11 years having the anthropological roots in the western part of India, were analysed for the accuracy of the following age estimation methods: 1) Demirjian’s; 2) Willems; 3) Nolla’s; and 4) Modified Cameriere’s method in various age group ranges and in both the genders of the study population. To avoid observer bias, each digital OPG of an individual was coded with a numerical identity number. Results were analysed using unpaired t-test and Spearman’s correlation test (p-value <0.05).

Results: An overestimation was observed in the Demirjian’s and Willems DA estimation methods in all the age groups and both the genders, while modified Cameriere’s method gave overestimation in the older age groups and approximation to the Chronological Age (CA) in younger age groups. Nolla’s method proved to be the best method in study population.

Conclusion: Nolla’s method of age estimation was more accurate than other methods for determining the age in 3-11 years old western Indian children.