Compare, evaluate, and estimate chronological age with dental age and skeletal age in 6–14-year-old Himachali children

Abstract

Introduction: Age estimation is of immense importance not only for personal identification but also for treatment planning in medicine and dentistry. Chronologic age conveys only a rough approximation of the maturational status of a person. Hence, dental and skeletal ages (SAs) have been explored as maturity indicators since decades. Aims And Objectives: To test the applicability of Willem's dental age (DA) assessment methods as well as Mito T SA assessment method in Himachali children. Materials and Methods: The study included 55 subjects (30 males and 25 females) ranging from 6 to 14 years age who require orthodontic intervention. DA estimation was performed from digital orthopantomogram of mandibular teeth of left quadrant using Willem's methods. SA estimation was done from lateral cephalogram using Mito T method. The differences between the chronological age (CA) and the estimated dental and SAs were statistically tested using paired t-test. The correlation between CA, dental, and SA estimation methods was confirmed statistically using Pearson's correlation. Results: Among the age estimation methods used in this study, the Willem's DA estimation method proved to be the most accurate and consistent. Conclusion: Although various age estimation methods do exist, the results are varied in different populations due to ethnic differences. However, till new tables are formulated using greater sample size, the Willem's method can be accurately applied to estimate CA for the population studied.