title: Dental age estimation using Willems method: A digital orthopantomographic study.
abstract: In recent years, age estimation has become increasingly important in living people for a variety of reasons, including identifying criminal and legal responsibility, and for many other social events such as a birth certificate, marriage, beginning a job, joining the army, and retirement.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the developmental stages of left seven mandibular teeth for estimation of dental age (DA) in different age groups and to evaluate the possible correlation between DA and chronological age (CA) in South Indian population using Willems method.
  
  
  METHODS
  Digital Orthopantomogram of 332 subjects (166 males, 166 females) who fit the study and the criteria were obtained. Assessment of mandibular teeth (from central incisor to the second molar on left quadrant) development was undertaken and DA was assessed using Willems method.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study showed a significant correlation between DA and CA in both males (r = 0.71 and females (r = 0.88). The overall mean difference between the estimated DA and CA for males was 0.69 ± 2.14 years (P < 0.001) while for females, it was 0.08 ± 1.34 years (P > 0.05). Willems method underestimated the mean age of males by 0.69 years and females by 0.08 years and showed that females mature earlier than males in selected population. The mean difference between DA and CA according to Willems method was 0.39 years and is statistically significant (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed significant relation between DA and CA. Thus, digital radiographic assessment of mandibular teeth development can be used to generate mean DA using Willems method and also the estimated age range for an individual of unknown CA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, GITAM Dental College and Hospital, Rushikonda, Visakhapatnam, India.
authors.forename: Rezwana Begum
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Mohammed
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Kalinga Institute of Dental Sciences, Patia, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Krishnamraju
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences, Ernakulam, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Prasanth
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, MGIMS, Sevagram, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Praveen
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sanghvi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Dental College, Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: M Asha
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lata Reddy
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Panineeya Insstitute of Dental Sciences, Dilshuknagar, Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jyotsna
keywords: Age estimation; Willems method; chronological age; dental age; forensic odontology