Accuracy of Age Estimation Method Using Dental Radiographs of Permanent Mandibular Second Molars in a Southern Thailand Population

Abstract

Age estimation is an important process for identifying individuals. In 2020, Duangto et al. estimated age by assessing dental development according to the method of Demirjian on permanent mandibular second molars using a panoramic radiograph. They also developed equations and tested their accuracy in a population of northern Thailand. However, several studies have shown that age estimation methods vary in suitability and accuracy depending on genetic and environmental factors within each population group. Therefore, this research aimed to test the accuracy of dental age estimation using the equations derived from panoramic radiographs of permanent mandibular second molars in a population of southern Thailand. A total of 224 radiographs of 112 males and 112 females aged 7–14 years were used for this study. The samples were categorized into eight groups (28 radiographs per group). The study identified tooth development in stages C–G that followed the Demirjian method and converted these stages into numerical values (3–7). The researchers tested these numerical values in the Duangto et al. equations. The findings revealed that age estimation using the Duangto et al. equations was not significantly different from chronological age. The accuracy had a margin of error not exceeding one year with 95% confidence intervals. In conclusion, the age estimation equations of Duangto et al. can accurately estimate the age of persons living in southern Thailand.