title: Reliability of third molar development for age estimation in Gujarati population: A comparative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Age assessment may be a crucial step in postmortem profiling leading to confirmative identification. In children, Demirjian's method based on eight developmental stages was developed to determine maturity scores as a function of age and polynomial functions to determine age as a function of score.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Of this study was to evaluate the reliability of age estimation using Demirjian's eight teeth method following the French maturity scores and Indian-specific formula from developmental stages of third molar with the help of orthopantomograms using the Demirjian method.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dental panoramic tomograms from 30 subjects each of known chronological age and sex were collected and were evaluated according to Demirjian's criteria. Age calculations were performed using Demirjian's formula and Indian formula. Statistical analysis used was Chi-square test and ANOVA test and the P values obtained were statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was an average underestimation of age with both Indian and Demirjian's formulas. The mean absolute error was lower using Indian formula hence it can be applied for age estimation in present Gujarati population. Also, females were ahead of achieving dental maturity than males thus completion of dental development is attained earlier in females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Greater accuracy can be obtained if population-specific formulas considering the ethnic and environmental variation are derived performing the regression analysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Pacific Dental College and Hospital, Debari, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Neha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gandhi
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Dentistry, Pacific Dental College and Hospital, Pacific Academy of Higher Education and Research University, Debari, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, MMCDSR, Mullana, Ambala, India.
authors.forename: Manish
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, G.M.E.R.S. Medical College, Sola, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Pratik
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rupakar
authors.affiliation: Dental Officer, Field Hospital, Asian Productivity Organization (APO), West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Kanaram
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Choyal
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Government Dental College and Hospital, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Seema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prajapati
keywords: Chronological age; Demirjian's method; dental maturity; panoramic radiographs; polynomial functions; regression analysis; third molar