Diagnostic accuracy of the third molar maturity index (I3M) to assess the age of legal majority in Northern Brazil-population-specific cut-off values.

Abstract

International guidelines for dental age assessment have recommended the use of methods based on available population-specific data. The Third Molar Maturity Index (I3M) was previously validated in several populations worldwide. This was the first study to evaluate the I3M in a northern Brazilian population and to test the diagnostic accuracy of the method to distinguish between minors and adults. The sample consisted of 1.070 panoramic radiographs retrospectively collected from females (n = 595) and males (n = 475) with ages between 16 and 22years. I3M's original cut-off value of 0.08 was used to classify individuals below and above the age of 18. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to assess the accuracy (ACC) of the method. In females and males separately, the overall ACC was 73.1% and 80%, respectively. The overall ACC for the combined sample was 76.1%. For northern Brazilian males, the best cut-off value remained 0.08, while for females, an adjustment to 0.12 showed optimal outcomes. The new cut-off value led to an ACC of 98.5% for females, which reflected an increase of 25.5% compared to the original cut-off value. The original cut-off value proposed by I3M was applicable to the present sample of northern Brazilian individuals. Adjustments to 0.12, however, may be encouraged to enhance the performance of the method among females.