Evaluation of Dental Age in western UP children using open apices method- A cross sectional study

Context: forensic odontology has major role in evaluating dental age. Among different methods of age evaluation, Cameriere’s technique is most widely used, for dental age estimation in children, which is based on measuring the open apices of teeth with length of developing permanent teeth using orthopantomogram . Aim of the study: To evaluate dental age of western UP children, aged from (5year- 15years) using Cameriere’s open apices method with Indian formula. Material and methods: Total 1500 OPG’s of subjects (aged from 5-15 years) over the period of 2 years, having various orthodontic treatment needs formed the sample for study with predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The chronological age (CA) for every case was computed by deducting the DOB from DOR (date of radiograph) using a simple formula in Microsoft Excel. The seven lower left quadrant teeth were evaluated for absolute root formation and closed apical ends (N0) and among the teeth with incomplete root development and open apices width and length of apices, were calculated. Statistical Analysis: The sample size calculation was done using the 35.5% prevalence of malocclusion among 5-15 years of children with 95% confidence level, 90% power and 5% desired precision. For each individual, the morphological parameters, xi, i = 1, . . ., 7, s, N0, and subjects’ gender, were entered in an Excel spreadsheet to use as predictive variables for estimating age in the following statistical analysis. Results: In current study the regression analysis was carried out to estimate the dental age (dependent variable) based on width and length of apices (independent variable). A high degree of correlation between dependent and independent variables was found. The statistical difference between actual age and estimated age was non-significant (p value 0.121) Conclusion:  The present study, suggests that length and width of open apices are valuable age predictors.