Reliability of mathematical regression models for age estimation in the mixed dentition stage for Egyptian children

Abstract

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of established mathematical regression models for estimating the age of Egyptian children, develop new models that would better match this population and to evaluate the validity and reliability of these new models. Results One thousand one hundred fifteen children ranging in age between 6–14 years participated in the study. Group I consisted of 1000 children; 513 (51.3%) children were of the age group 6–< 9 years and 487 (48.7%) children were 9–14 years. Male children were 484 (48.4%) while female children were 516 (51.6%). Group II consisted of 115 children; 84 (73%) children were of the age group 6–< 9 years and 31 (27%) children were 9–14 years. Male children were 58 (50.4%) while Female children were 57 (49.6%). Foti regression models showed poor agreement of Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) with chronological age of children in the mixed dentition stage. The new regression models for estimating dental age showed ICC of more than 0.7 with chronological age suggesting better accuracy in age estimation than Foti models. Conclusions The newly formulated regression models are reliable for estimating the age of Egyptian children during the mixed dentition stage. A good agreement was found between the estimated age obtained from the first two models and the chronological age. However, the third model had the least agreement, suggesting that age estimation may be more accurate using only the first two models.