title: Demirjian's method in the estimation of age: A study on human third molars.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The primary aim of the following study is to estimate the chronological age based on the stages of third molar development following the eight stages (A to H) method of Demirjian et al. (along with two modifications-Orhan) and secondary aim is to compare third molar development with sex and age.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of 115 orthopantomograms from South Indian subjects with known chronological age and gender. Multiple regression analysis was performed with chronological age as the dependable variable and third molar root development as independent variable. All the statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 11.0 package (IBM ® Corporation).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically no significant differences were found in third molar development between males and females. Depending on the available number of wisdom teeth in an individual, R (2) varied for males from 0.21 to 0.48 and for females from 0.16 to 0.38. New equations were derived for estimating the chronological age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The chronological age of a South Indian individual between 14 and 22 years may be estimated based on the regression formulae. However, additional studies with a larger study population must be conducted to meet the need for population-based information on third molar development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Amitha J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Boaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Father Muller Medical College Hospital, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Nagesh
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Srikant
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Shri Bankey Bihari Dental College and Research Center, Masuri, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Neha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Nandita
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Nidhi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Manaktala
keywords: Age estimation; Demirjian's method; teeth; third molar