Eunice Njeri Kihara1, Peter Gichangi1, Helen M Liversidge2, Fawzia Butt1, Gichambira Gikenye1. 1. a Department of Human Anatomy, School of Medicine , University of Nairobi , Nairobi , Kenya. 2. b Institute of Dentistry, Bart's and The London School of Medicine And Dentistry , Queen Mary University of London , London , UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Radiographic study of developing teeth provides a reliable indication of chronological age. In Kenya, dentists are often required to estimate age. However, there is a paucity of publications on the performance of dental age estimation methods. AIM: To determine the accuracy of Willems' method of dental age estimation. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was done at The University of Nairobi Dental Hospital. Panoramic radiographs of children aged 3.00-16.99 years old were studied. Dental age was estimated according to Willems' method and compared to chronological age and the difference compared to zero using a t-test. RESULTS: Radiographs of 187 (47%) females and 214 (53%) males were analysed. Willems' method significantly over-estimated the mean overall age by -0.24 ± 1.17 years (p < .000). Age was over-estimated in girls by -0.10 ± 1.18 years (p = .254); however, age in boys was significantly over-estimated by -0.37 ± 1.14 years (p < .000). CONCLUSIONS: Willem's model over-estimated dental age slightly and the method performed better in estimating the age of girls compared to boys. The majority of the children had their age estimated within 1 year of their chronological age. This suggests that Willems' method is suitable for estimating the ages of individual children in Kenya.
BACKGROUND: Radiographic study of developing teeth provides a reliable indication of chronological age. In Kenya, dentists are often required to estimate age. However, there is a paucity of publications on the performance of dental age estimation methods. AIM: To determine the accuracy of Willems' method of dental age estimation. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was done at The University of Nairobi Dental Hospital. Panoramic radiographs of children aged 3.00-16.99 years old were studied. Dental age was estimated according to Willems' method and compared to chronological age and the difference compared to zero using a t-test. RESULTS: Radiographs of 187 (47%) females and 214 (53%) males were analysed. Willems' method significantly over-estimated the mean overall age by -0.24 ± 1.17 years (p < .000). Age was over-estimated in girls by -0.10 ± 1.18 years (p = .254); however, age in boys was significantly over-estimated by -0.37 ± 1.14 years (p < .000). CONCLUSIONS: Willem's model over-estimated dental age slightly and the method performed better in estimating the age of girls compared to boys. The majority of the children had their age estimated within 1 year of their chronological age. This suggests that Willems' method is suitable for estimating the ages of individual children in Kenya.
Entities:
Keywords:
Kenyan children; Tooth development; Willems’ method; age estimation
Authors: Eunice Kihara; Ivan Galic; Donna Nyamunga; Fuad Mehdi; Luz Andrea Velandia Palacio; Roberto Cameriere Journal: Int J Legal Med Date: 2022-06-16 Impact factor: 2.791