Dental Age Estimation According to European Formula and Willems Method: Comparison Between Children With and Without Cleft Lip and Palate.

OBJECTIVE

To assess dental age and deviations of dental from chronological age according to the Willems and Cameriere methods (European formula) in patients with cleft lip and/or cleft palate (CL/P) and compare it with control group.

DESIGN

Retrospective cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Clinic of Orthodontics.

PARTICIPANTS

Sixty-nine patients with CL/P between 6 and 15 years of age (55 with unilateral and 14 with bilateral CL/P) with 148 panoramic radiographs. The same number of radiographs was examined in the age-matched control group.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Estimation and comparison of dental age and differences of dental from chronological age in relation to the type of cleft, sex, and age in the group of patients with and without CL/P according to Willems and Cameriere method.

RESULTS

No significant intersex and intergroup differences were found in deviations of dental from chronological age according to Cameriere method (P > .05). Significant difference in deviation of dental from chronological age was found between the patients with and without CL/P according to Willems method (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Cameriere European formula for dental age estimation, which is not influenced by sex and tooth morphology, showed similar dental development of children with and without CL/P. However, Willems method detected that deviation of dental from chronological age significantly differed between children with and without clefts.