Dental age estimation in children and adolescents with amelogenesis imperfecta.

BACKGROUND

Considering the difficulties presented by changed tooth growth patterns in amelogenesis imperfecta (AI), which might influence clinical decisions and treatment planning, the purpose of this study is to assess the accuracy of dental age assessment in Turkish children with AI in comparison to controls.

METHODS

A total of 416 Turkish children, ages 5 to 13.99, had their panoramic images examined in this retrospective study (104 with AI and 312 controls, 1:3 ratio). The London Atlas method and Cameriere's European formula were used to estimate dental age. To improve accuracy, a new regression equation was created, and the outcomes were compared using statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Chronologic age and Cameriere's European formula did not differ statistically significantly in either group (p = 0.226). However, there were statistically significant variations (p < 0.001) in the dental age estimates from the London Atlas approach, which were overstated by roughly 0.39-0.69 years in both groups. Using Cameriere's formula, the new regression equation described 90.8% of the deviance in children with AI, while the London Atlas technique explained 83.0%.

CONCLUSIONS

Accurate dental age estimation is crucial for children with AI, and the findings emphasize the superiority of Cameriere's European formula over the London Atlas method, reinforcing the need for reliable techniques tailored to this unique population.