Third-Molar Development in Relation to Chronologic Age in Turkish Children and Young Adults

Abstract

AbstractObjective: To assess estimation of chronologic age based on the stages of third-molar development following the eight stages (A–H) method of Demirjian et al and to compare third-molar development by sex and age with results of previous studies.Materials and Methods: The final sample consisted of 900 orthopantomograms from young Turkish subjects of known chronologic age (range, 8–25 years; mean age, 15.18 ± 4.81 years) and sex (380 males with a mean age of 14.51 ± 4.55; 520 females with a mean age of 15.67 ± 4.94). Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U-test and the Wilcoxon test between sex and age. Regression analysis was performed to obtain regression formulas for dental age calculation with the chronologic ageResults: Statistically significant differences (P < .05) in third-molar development between males and females were revealed regarding the calcification stages D and G. Third-molar genesis was attained earlier in males than in females. Statistical analysis showed a strong correlation between age and third-molar development for males (r2 = .65) and for females (r2 = .61). New equations (Age = 8.92 + 1.50 Development stage) were derived for estimating chronologic age.Conclusion: The use of third molars as a developmental marker is appropriate, especially when comparing the obtained standard deviation with other skeletal age calculation techniques.