Abstract
BackgroundThe objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the validity and accuracy of the Willems, Demirjian and Nolla methods in predicting chronological age in a Spanish ethnicity population.MethodsA sample of 604 orthopantomographs of Spanish children aged 4 to 13 years was evaluated by two independent evaluators. Descriptive statistics were applied to calculate the chronological age and dental age, presenting the mean and standard deviation. The difference between dental age and chronological age was calculated for each method. A positive result indicated an overestimation and a negative figure indicated an underestimation. The Wilcoxon test for paired data and Spearman’s correlation coefficient were applied by age groups and sex to compare the chronological age and dental age of each method (that of Willems, Demirjian and Nolla). Statistical tests were performed at a 95% confidence level.ResultsThe interexaminer agreement was 0.98 (p = 0.00), and the intraexaminer agreement was 0.99 (p = 0.00). The Willems method significantly overestimated the age of boys (0.35 years (0.93)) and girls (0.17 years (0.88)). The Demirjian method significantly overestimated the age of boys (0.68 years (0.95)) and girls (0.73 years (0.94)). The Nolla method significantly underestimated age in boys (0.44 years (0.93)) and girls (0.82 years (0.98)).ConclusionsIn the Spanish population, the use of the Demirjian method for legal and medical purposes is frequent. This study reveals that the Willems method is more appropriate due to its greater precision in estimating dental age.
Highlights
The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the validity and accuracy of the Willems, Demirjian and Nolla methods in predicting chronological age in a Spanish ethnicity population
The estimation of chronological age is used as a clinical tool in the field of pediatric dentistry and orthodontics, allowing us to assess the progress or the most appropriate treatment of different dental malocclusions based on craniofacial growth in children [1, 2]
The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) [25] recommendation guidelines were followed in this study and was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki [26]
Summary
The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the validity and accuracy of the Willems, Demirjian and Nolla methods in predicting chronological age in a Spanish ethnicity population. The estimation of chronological age is used as a clinical tool in the field of pediatric dentistry and orthodontics, allowing us to assess the progress or the most appropriate treatment of different dental malocclusions based on craniofacial growth in children [1, 2]. Paz Cortés et al BMC Pediatrics (2020) 20:361 age through the mineralization phases of the teeth This method is accepted and recognized because it shows little variation compared to other properties related to skeletal or sexual growth. Assessing the accuracy and applicability of age estimation methods for different populations is of vital importance [3]
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