engleski

New model for dental age estimation: Willems method applied on three and four mandibular teeth

Objective: Willems method, frequently used for dental age estimation, is based on developmental stages of 7 left permanent mandibular teeth. We investigated the possibility and accuracy of age estimation by its application on less than 7 teeth. Methods: Developmental stages were evaluated on digital, standardized orthopantomograms of 1868 children (1059 boys and 809 girls) aged 5 to 16. Univariate regression was used for age estimation based on one tooth and regression with forward and backward elimination for selection of the best combination of 2-6 teeth. Results: Optimal selection of teeth for dental age estimation is similar in boys and girls: one tooth (34), two teeth (34 and 37), three teeth (33, 34 and 37), four teeth (31, 33, 34 and 37), five teeth (31, 33, 34, 36 and 37), six teeth (31, 33, 34, 35, 36 and 37). The differences between models are significant (F-test, p<0.05), except for comparison of models with 7 and 6 teeth in girls. Within the interval ±0.5 years, model with 3 teeth has 3% less and model with 4 teeth 1.5% less accurate age estimations than model including 7 teeth. Within the interval ±1 year, models with 3 or 4 teeth have 1% less accurate estimations than model including 7 teeth. Conclusion: Despite significant differences in total square deviations of models including less than 7 teeth, small difference in percentage of accurate age estimations within specified intervals justifies the practical use of new models including 3 or 4 teeth

age estimation ; dental age ; Willems method ; forensic odontology ; Croatia

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