Age estimation using orthopantomograms and Willems method among Kenyan children attending dental clinics in Western Kenya

Abstract

Background: Various methods have been used to estimate age in different populations among them being Willems method which has widely been utilized. In Kenya, there is hardly any approved method that has been used to achieve this purpose, hence the need to determine the available methods for estimating age of children in Western Kenya. Therefore, this study aimed at estimating age using Willems method among children attending dental clinics in Western Kenya. Methods: The study adopted a cross-sectional descriptive design and used Yamane Taro (1967) formulae to find a sample size of 171 orthopantomograms (94males and 77 females) out of 300 panoramic radiographs of children aged between 5-17 years. They were examined by the author in order to determine the tooth maturity stages (A-H) for the first seven mandibular teeth on the left side, accorded maturity scores according to Willems conversion tables for boys and girls and summed up to obtain dental age. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data. The results were then presented in tables and figures. Results: The overall mean dental age was 8.94 ± 2.64 with a standard error of 0.173 and that of females and males was 8.75 ±2.28 and 9.10 ±2.24 years respectively at 95% Confidence interval. Conclusion: In conclusion, Willems method revealed an overall underestimation of dental age with no statistical difference between estimated and actual age in both genders among children in Western Kenya.