On the applicability of secondary dentin formation to radiological age estimation in young adults

The literature provides linear regression formulas for dental age estimation that is based on radiological two-dimensional measurements of the pulp size. The aim of the present study was to explore whether the previously presented regression formulas could lead to statistically sound results and to appropriate repeatability when applied to young individuals. Orthopantomograms (OPGs) of 44 Austrian individuals, aged between 13 and 24 years, were selected at random. In accordance with the reported method, six teeth on each OPG were chosen to carry out the measurements. Statistical analysis was performed in order to assess the difference between the estimated and the true chronological age. The regression formulas reported by Kvaal et al. (1995) led to a consistent underestimation; the regression formulas reported by Paewinsky et al. (2005) resulted in a constant overestimation of age. The statistical analysis of intraobserver and interobserver variation revealed a variation width below 2%, respectively.