Abstract
Objective: This cross-sectional school based study aimed to assess the reliability of Fishman and Nolla methods in predicting the chronological age for Yemeni children. Material and Methods: Orthopantomographs and left handwrist radiographs were taken for 358 Yemeni children (193 boys and 165 girls) 8 - 16 years. Skeletal age estimated by Fishman method and dental age estimated by Nolla method were compared to chronological age using SPSS version 21, statistical significance was predetermined at P < 0.05 , using Intraclass Correlation Coefficient- ICC and Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results: The mean chronological, skeletal and dental ages were 12.00 ± 2.25 years, 12.39 ± 1.65 years and 11.32 ± 2.65 years, respectively. Intraclass correlation coefficient showed strong correlation between chronological age and skeletal and dental ages. Wilcoxon test showed Fishman method significantly underestimated the chronological age by 0.44 ± 1.26 years in boys and non-significantly underestimated the chronological age by 0.02 ± 1.08 years in girls. Nolla method significantly underestimated the chronological age by 0.59 ± 1.28 years in boys and 0.78 ± 1.21 years in girls. Conclusions: Chronological age of Yemeni children is highly correlated to skeletal age estimated by Fishman method and dental age estimated by Nolla method. However, the two methods underestimate the chronological age of Yemeni children.KeywordsAge determination by teeth; Orthodontics; Age determination by skeleton; Forensic dentistry; Yemen.
Highlights
Age estimation has increasingly become of more concerns in several aspects, including orthodontic treatment needs, forensic dentistry and criminal conflicts [1,2]
Where: y= chronological age, x= skeletal age estimated by Fishman method, a= constant, b= slope
Where: y= chronological age, x= dental age estimated by Nolla method, a= constant, b= slope
Summary
Age estimation has increasingly become of more concerns in several aspects, including orthodontic treatment needs, forensic dentistry and criminal conflicts [1,2]. Age of living individual can be estimated by radiological investigation of the dental developmental status [3] or the maturation level of the handwrist [4]. Skeletal age is a dependable method to assess the maturational status [5]. Definite variations in the chronological age was found when different skeletal maturity stages were studied and differences in the timing of skeletal maturity between genders and races were observed. These variations were recommended to be taken into account during orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning [6]. Abundant age estimating methods were developed based on skeletal maturity or dental development. Fishman method is commonly used with 11 skeletal maturity indicators (SMIs) assessed in the left handwrist radiograph [4]
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