Validity of the Demirjian method for dental age estimation for Southern Turkish children

The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of the Demirjian method for southern Turkish population.

Panoramic radiographs of 535 patients (276 females, 259 males aged from 10 to 18 years) selected retrospectively. Dental age was calculated using the Demirjian's method. Chronologic age was calculated by subtracting the date of the birth from the date of the panoramic radiograph after having converted both to a decimal age. The chronologic and dental ages were compared using the paired t-test.

The mean difference between the chronologic and dental ages ranged from 0.02 to 0.79 years in females. These differences in females between the chronologic and dental ages were statistically significant in total (P < 0.050) and in G1 (10-10.90 years) (P < 0.010) and G2 (11-11.90 years) (P < 0.001). The mean difference between the chronologic and dental ages ranged from 0.04 to 0.85 years in males. These differences in males between the chronologic age and dental age were statistically significant in total (P < 0.010) and in G4 (13-13.90 years) G5 (14-14.90 years) G6 (15-15.90 years) groups (P < 0.050).

It is appropriate to use the Demirjian method in southern Turkish children; however, a revision is needed in some age groups.