Dental Age Estimation by Different Methods in Patients With Amelogenesis Imperfecta

One of the developmental enamel defects, amelogenesis imperfecta (AI), is also known as enamel hypoplasia/hypomineralization. It is a rare inherited disease that affects the enamel structure, amount and component in primary and permanent teeth, and it has been reported to be accompanied by some dental anomalies and nephrocalcinosis. Dental anomalies and nephrocalcinosis can affect tooth development, and there are limited studies examining tooth development in these individuals.Dental age is widely evaluated by pedodontists, forensic dentists and orthodontists. While a delay in tooth development may be associated with growth retardation and learning difficulties, dental age determination can also be used for forensic age determination for children whose birth information is uncertain. A clear assessment of maturation in children with continued growth is important in establishing a dental treatment plan.

Dental age is widely evaluated by pedodontists, forensic dentists and orthodontists. While a delay in tooth development may be associated with growth retardation and learning difficulties, dental age determination can also be used for forensic age determination for children whose birth information is uncertain. A clear assessment of maturation in children with continued growth is important in establishing a dental treatment plan.

There are two basic approaches to dental age determination in children:

• evaluation of eruption of teeth in the oral cavity,
• evaluation of the development and mineralization of crowns and roots on dental radiographs.

In many methods, the developmental stages of different numbers of permanent teeth are used.

One of the most widely used methods of dental age determination recently is the European formula of Cameriere et al., which is calculated based on open apex. It has been reported that this method has been tested on different population groups, and the results are accurate and reliable.

An atlas method was proposed by a group of London researchers in 2010. The Atlas shows all the teeth array images of certain age groups as a schematic series. Age determination is made by deciding which reference image matches the individual's panoramic radiography image more.

Inclusion criteria

• 5-13 years old
• Healthy children
• Children with AI
• Patients without missing left mandibular permanent teeth on panoramic radiography

Exclusion criteria

• Children older than 5 years old and younger than 14 years (children that cannot be assessed by the Willems and Cameriere method)
• Poor quality panoramic radiography
• Patients who have received orthodontic treatment
• Patients who received restorative or endodontic treatment