title: Dental age estimation using Demirjian and Willems methods: cross sectional study on children from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
abstract: To evaluate applicability of Demirjian and Willems methods for calculating dental age of children in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia we analyzed panoramic radiographs of 966 children (485 female and 481 male, aged 6-13 years) treated at the University and Community Dental Clinics in Skopje using four Demirjian methods and a Willems method for determining dental ages. Intra-rater and inter-rater agreement of mineralization stages were 0.86 and 0.82, respectively. All methods significantly overestimated dental age when compared to the chronological age (p<0.001). In males, the lowest overestimation was shown using Willems method (0.52±0.87 years), followed by Demirjian methods from 1976 using PM1, PM2, M1, M2 teeth (0.69±0.92 years) and using I2, PM1, PM2, M2 teeth (0.80±0.98 years). The greatest overestimation were shown using Demirjian methods using 7 teeth from 1976 (0.92±0.99 years) and method from 1973 (1.06±1.07 years). In females, the lowest overestimation was shown using Willems method (0.33±0.83 years) than the Demirjian method using PM1, PM2, M1, M2 teeth (1.00±1.01 years), following methods from 1976 using 7 teeth (1.03±1.01 years) and I2, PM1, PM2, M2 teeth (1.12±0.96 years). The greatest overestimation was for method from 1973 using 7 teeth (1.17±0.98 years). Willems method was the most accurate while Demirjian's methods for dental age calculation are not suitable on children from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, The Saints Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje, Vodnjanska 17, 91000 Skopje, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Electronic address: ambveki@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ambarkova
authors.affiliation: University Department of Health Studies, University of Split, Ruđera Boškovića 31, 21000 Split, Croatia; Department of Dental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Split, Ruđera Boškovića 31, 21000 Split, Croatia. Electronic address: igalic@mefst.hr.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Galić
authors.affiliation: Department for Dental Anthropology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Gundulićeva 5, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: vodanovic@sfzg.hr.
authors.forename: Marin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vodanović
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Split, Ruđera Boškovića 31, 21000 Split, Croatia. Electronic address: dlukenda@mefst.hr.
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Biočina-Lukenda
authors.affiliation: Department for Dental Anthropology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Gundulićeva 5, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Gundulićeva 5, 10000, Croatia. Electronic address: brkic@sfzg.hr.
authors.forename: Hrvoje
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brkić
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000366:Age Determination by Teeth / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005553:Forensic Dentistry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D018843:Republic of North Macedonia; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014070:Tooth / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014074:Tooth Calcification
keywords: Age calculation; Demirjian methods; Dental age; Forensic odontology; Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; Willems method