Abstract

Introduction Methods of dental age assessment (DAA) give a wide margin of error and, because third molars are usually excluded, prevent estimation around the age of 18 years. This study extends the use of defined tooth development stages (TDSs) to include third molars.

Subjects and methods Re-use of dental panoramic tomographs (DPTs) and other X-rays taken for clinical use comprised the sample of 1,547 subjects. The radiographic images were then captured in digital format. The TDSs were assessed and the estimated mean age and its standard error were calculated for each TDS. The mathematical technique of meta-analysis was used to provide an estimate of the mean age, with 99% confidence interval, of a new 'test' subject. To assess the accuracy of the method, each of these mean values was then compared with the gold standard of chronological age.

Results On average, estimated dental age (DA) over-estimated chronological age (CA) by 0.29 years, approximately 3½ months. The maximum likely difference between the estimated DA and CA was 1.65 years.

Conclusion Estimation of dental age using well defined TDSs, extended to include third molars and combined with the statistical technique of meta-analysis, provides investigators with a rapid and accurate estimation of age.

1. Professor and Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry, King's College London Dental Institute, Bessemer Road, London, SE5 9RS;
2. Lecturer in Paediatric Dentistry, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, 256 Gray's Inn Road, London, WCX 8LD;
3. Senior Lecturer and Head, Unit of Biostatistics, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, 256 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1X 8LD;
4. Senior Clinical Research Fellow, King's College London Dental Institute, Bessemer Road, London, SE5 9RS

Correspondence to: G. J. Roberts¹ e-mail: graham.j.roberts@kcl.ac.uk