Age Estimation in Libyan Children Based on Dental Panoramic Radiography

Abstract

Background: Age estimation plays a key role in human identification process, and guiding police investigations. Tooth development is widely used in determining age and state of maturity. Dental age is of high importance in forensic and pediatric dentistry and also orthodontic treatment planning. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of the Cameriere method on estimating chronological age of a Libyan sample of 6-year-old up to 13-year-old children through analysis of panoramic radiographs on teeth, considering the relationship between age and measurements of open apices teeth. Materials and methods: Orthopantomographic images of 156 radiographs were selected for the study of which 76 were belonging to boys and 80 girls children. Dental age of the subjects was determined through Cameriere method. Differences and correlations between chronological and dental ages were assessed by paired t-tests and Pearson’s correlation analysis, respectively. Multiple regression analysis was used to predict chronologic age in Libyan from 6-13 years children population. Results: High positive correlation was found between chronologic age and dental age (as assessed by Cameriere's formula) with r values 0.882, 0.975, and 0.758 for total, girls and boys study population respectively. The mean dental age assessed by Cameriere's method was significantly lower than chronologic age in the Libyan population with boys and the total study population (p < 0.05). Six out of nine parameters were significantly associated with chronologic age (R2=0.996, F(6,155)= 2792.023, p<0.01).