Radiographic evaluation of third-molar development in a group of Turkish children

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the crypt formation and calcification of the maxillary and mandibular third molars according to age and gender on panoramic radiographs in a group of Turkish children. Four hundred panoramic radiographs of 188 female and 212 male dental patients, ages six to thirteen years, were examined by two observers. The interrater reliability was tested by Kappa statistics. The earliest age for maxillary third molar crypt formation was eight years; mandibular third molars could be seen radiographically as early as seven years.