A radiographic study of estimating age by deciduous mandibular canine and molar root resorption.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Root resorption of deciduous teeth is an important aspect of dental development; however, the accuracy of using root resorption as a method of estimating age has not been reported. The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of estimating age from fractions of resorbed root in mandibular deciduous canines and molars, using published reference data.

METHODS

The sample was 940 dental panoramic radiographs of dental patients aged 3-16. Deciduous mandibular canine and molar roots were staged into levels of resorption (one quarter, one half and three quarters). Reliability of root fractions was assessed using 193 duplicate readings and calculated using Kappa. Age was estimated using Moorrees et al. (1963), Fanning (1961), and O'Meara and Knott (1967), and the difference between dental and chronological ages tested using t-test. Accuracy was defined as a difference not significant to zero (P<0.05).

RESULTS

Results show that assessment of levels of root resorption was excellent (Kappa 0.88-0.94). Some root fractions of molars estimated age accurately; however, the standard deviation was more than 2 years. The average difference between dental and chronological ages ranged from 0.12 to -2.04 years with standard deviation values up to 2 years and the most accurate method was O'Meara and Knott (1967).

CONCLUSION

Fractions of deciduous root resorption can help to predict age.