Abstract

AN ACCURACY IN AGE ESTIMATION USING DEMIRJIAN’S AND NOLLA’S METHOD – A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Dr. K. Saraswathi Gopal*, Dr. N. Krishna Raj and Dr. Anitha Raghunathan

ABSTRACT

Introduction: To Evaluate and Correlate the accuracy of chronological age estimation from dental age measured with Demirijian’s and Nolla’s method in Chennai based population. Objective is to analyse and compare the predictive capacity and magnitude of agreement between the two methods and to construct a predictive value of chronological age accordingly. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in the department of Oral Medicine And Radiology. A total of 294 OPG images in the age group of 7 to 18 years were selected. The radiographs were traced using a pencil on a tracing paper and the required parameters were noted. Results: statistically significant results were obtained in all the age groups however in older age groups-above 18years the scoring system was not reliable. The mean difference between dental and chronological age in both studies demirijian’s and nolla’s were (boys -0.241) (girls 0.4), (boys 0.75) (girls 0.481)respectively which was significant. Therefore results showed strong linear correlation between dental and chronological age for both demirijian’s and nolla’s method. Conclusion: According to this study conducted on 294 subjects of age group 7-18 years; it was found that Demirjian’s and nolla’s method showed significance in chronological and dental age of the patients. And we conclude that Demirjian’s and Nolla’s method are equally effective in determining the age of a patient in forensic odontology.

Keywords: Age estimation, Forensic odontology, Dental age, chronological age, Demirijian’s method and Nolla’s method.