Accuracy of age estimation with Demirjian and Nolla methods in Eastern Turkish children aged 3-17 years old

PURPOSE: Dental age assessment is one of the most reliable methods of chronological age estimation used for criminal, forensic and anthropologic purposes. This study aimed to determine how accurate it was to estimate the chronological age by looking at the dental age measured with the Nolla and Demirjian methods in a Turkish sample, based on the variables of gender and age-group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on panoramic radiographs of 1587 subjects (774 females and 813 males), aged 3–17 years. The mean dental age according to the Demirjian and Nolla methods were compared to the mean chronological age (CA). Also, the percentage value of prediction of CA was determined by using the both methods. RESULTS: An under-estimation of the chronological age was observed by using Nolla’s method (males -0.003, females -0.32, both -0.16) and an over-estimation of the dental age was observed by using Demirjian’s method (males 0.61, females 0.75,both 0.68). CONCLUSION: Nolla’s method was more accurate in the CA estimation than Demirjian’s method in Eastern Turkish population.