title: Age estimation in Indian children and adolescents in the NCR region of Haryana: A comparative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Age estimation is a preliminary step in the identification of an individual. It is a crucial and often most critical step for forensic experts. The assessment has been standardized utilizing common dental diagnostic x-rays, but most such age-estimating systems are European population-based and their applicability has not been determined in the context of the Indian population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the applicability and to compare the methods of dental age estimation by Demirjian's method and the same method as modified by Willems (i.e. the Willems method) in Indian children of the National Capital Region (NCR). Also, to find a correlation among skeletal maturity using the Cervical vertebrae maturation index (CVMI), dental maturity, and chronological age in the same population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was conducted using dental radiographs of 70 orthodontic patients (37 males, 33 females) in the age range 9-16 years selected by simple random sampling. pantomogram were used to estimate dental age by Demirjian's method and the Willems method using their scoring tables. Lateral cephalograms were used to estimate skeletal maturity using CVMI. The latter was compared with Demirjian's stage for mandibular left second molar.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overestimation of age among males by 0.856 years and 0.496 years was found by Demirjian's and the Willems methods, respectively. Among females, both the methods underestimated the age by 0.31 years and 0.45 years, respectively. Demirjian's stage G corresponded to CVMI stage 3 in males and stage 2 in females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our study, the Willems method has proved to be more accurate for age estimation among Indian males, and Demirjian's method for Indian females. A statistically significant association appeared between Demirjian's stages and CVMI among both males and females. Our study recommends the derivation of a regression formula by studying a larger section of the Indian population instead of applying the European system of age estimation directly to the Indian scenario.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Sudha Rustagi College of Dental Sciences and Research, Faridabad, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Swati
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Sudha Rustagi College of Dental Sciences and Research, Faridabad, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mehendiratta
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Sudha Rustagi College of Dental Sciences and Research, Faridabad, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Shweta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rehani
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Sudha Rustagi College of Dental Sciences and Research, Faridabad, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Madhumani
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kumra
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Sudha Rustagi College of Dental Sciences and Research, Faridabad, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Ruchi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nagpal
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Sudha Rustagi College of Dental Sciences and Research, Faridabad, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Ramakant
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gupta
keywords: Cervical Vertebrae Maturation Index; Demirjian's method; Willems method; dental age
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