Secular trend in the development of permanent teeth in a population of Istria and the littoral region of Croatia.
The study evaluated secular trends in dental development during a period of 30 years, correlation between dental and chronological age in Istria and the littoral region of Croatia. The sample consisted of 1000 panoramic radiographs of children, aged 6-16 years (mean 10.0±1.8), taken in the period 1977-1979 (N=500; 243 females) and 2007-2009 (N=500; 299 females). Dental age was assessed according to Demirjian's method. Correlation between chronological and dental age was linear, positive, high, and statistically significant in both periods and genders, ranging from 0.73 to 0.86. Dental age was underestimated when compared to chronological age by 1 year on average, more 30 years ago (-1.35±1.17) than today (-0.63±1.09), less for girls (-0.80±1.22) than boys (-1.21±1.10). A statistically significant positive secular trend in acceleration of dental development was present of 0.72 years during the 30-year period and was more significant in girls than boys (0.83- and 0.51-year acceleration).
Departament of Endodontics, School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Kresimirova 40, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia. anja.sasso@domzdravlja-pgz.hr
Anja
A
Sasso
Stjepan
S
Spalj
Barbara
B
Mady Maričić
Antun
A
Sasso
Tomislav
T
Cabov
Mario
M
Legović
D000293:Adolescent; D000366:Age Determination by Teeth; D002648:Child; D017523:Croatia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019229:Dentition, Permanent; D005260:Female; D005553:Forensic Dentistry; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012737:Sex Factors