Accuracy of an equation for estimating age from mandibular third molar development in a Thai population.
- Author:
Karune VEROCHANA
1
;
Sangsom PRAPAYASATOK
;
Apirum JANHOM
;
Phattaranant May MAHASANTIPIYA
;
Narumanas KORWANICH
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Age Determination by Teeth; Molar, Third; Radiography, Panoramic; Forensic Dentistry
- MeSH: Age Determination by Teeth; Asian Continental Ancestry Group*; Forensic Dentistry; Humans; Linear Models; Molar, Third*; Parturition; Radiography, Panoramic
- From:Imaging Science in Dentistry 2016;46(1):1-7
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: PURPOSE: This study assessed the accuracy of age estimates produced by a regression equation derived from lower third molar development in a Thai population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The first part of this study relied on measurements taken from panoramic radiographs of 614 Thai patients aged from 9 to 20. The stage of lower left and right third molar development was observed in each radiograph and a modified Gat score was assigned. Linear regression on this data produced the following equation: Y=9.309+1.673 mG+0.303S (Y=age; mG=modified Gat score; S=sex). In the second part of this study, the predictive accuracy of this equation was evaluated using data from a second set of panoramic radiographs (539 Thai subjects, 9 to 24 years old). Each subject's age was estimated using the above equation and compared against age calculated from a provided date of birth. Estimated and known age data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient and descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Ages estimated from lower left and lower right third molar development stage were significantly correlated with the known ages (r=0.818, 0.808, respectively, P≤0.01). 50% of age estimates in the second part of the study fell within a range of error of ±1 year, while 75% fell within a range of error of ±2 years. The study found that the equation tends to estimate age accurately when individuals are 9 to 20 years of age. CONCLUSION: The equation can be used for age estimation for Thai populations when the individuals are 9 to 20 years of age.
