Purpose: to study the methods for determining the dental age of children described in scientific sources, as well as to assess the availability and complexity of such methods and the reliability of the results obtained. Materials and methods. Literary review of world scientific publications on modern methods for determining the dental age in children. Results. The literature presents various methods for assessing dental age, which can be classified as: visual, radiological, morphological, biochemical, histological, and the like. Each of these methods has a large number of copyright modifications, depending on the region of residence, belonging to a particular race or gender, the methodology of the research itself, and many other factors. Dwelling on individual techniques, one can analyze both the complexity and availability of their implementation, and the reliability of the expected results. Conclusions. Methods based on the study of the formation of bone and dental structures are the most common, accurate and effective in determining the dental age of children, since they practically do not depend on environmental factors, are not exposed to environmental and social factors and are mostly genetically determined. Key words: dental age, biological age, method for determining dental age, orthopantomogram.

Introduction: Assessment of children's dental age is an important problem in pediatric dentistry, endocrinology, and orthodontics. Orthodontists, by comparing dental age with chronological age, can predict the schedule of treat ment and choose the optimal treatment period. For pediatricians, is important to know dental maturity of children with certain diseases, whose treatment may be accelerated or postponed. Objectives: The objective of the study was to evaluate Cameriere's method of dental age assessment technique as a biomarker of child's individual development. Material and methods:The study included 108 children, aged between 6 and 13 years, in whom chronologi cal age was compared with dental age assessed by Cameriere's method. The determined age was compared with the chronological age of children. Results: It was found that the average chronological age among the surveyed boys (n = 65) was 9.97 ± 2.27 years, and the age estimated based on Cameriere's method was 9.77 ± 2.24 years. Similarly, among the girls (n = 43), the mean chronological age was 10.05 ± 2.15 years, and the estimated age was 10.30 ± 2.17. Statistical analysis of correlation of the dental and calendar (chronological) ages revealed a certain percentage of children who did not fit into general average description and were beyond reliable data. Conclusions: Determination of dental age as a marker of biological maturity, in some cases, may indicate a devia tion from the average results. Such children need individual correction of standard treatment regimens, involving timing of treatment, degree of biological maturity, and body's readiness for a medical intervention.

To evaluate the chronological and dental age of children in Lviv and the Lviv region aged 6-7 years with the help of the modified formula Cameriere. Methods. Оrthopantomograms 23 children (16 boys and 7 girls) aged 6-7 years from Lviv and Lviv region have been used for this study. A questionnaire was developed for the submission of individual patient data and a standardized format for making their indicators derived from orthopantomograms (OPG). The examination of the area of the lower seven teeth on the left was done using the Cameriere method and the age of the child was evaluated, which was further compared with the chronological age. Results. The obtained results of the study showed a high accuracy and reliability of the estimation of dental age in children up to 6-7 years with the help of the Cameriere formula modified by us. The research is based on the detection of physiological changes (the rate of formation of the roots) in the permanent teeth of children using the X-ray method. Evaluating the results obtained by two methods, among girls and boys of the selected age group, a statistically significant strong correlation between the chronological age and the age calculated by the Cameriere method was revealed. Conclusions. The results of the studies have shown the suitability of the Cameriere formula modified during the process, based on the assessment of open tops and the number of teeth with completed root formation as a marker for the physiological development of the child and one that can be used to determine the child's age.

Purpose:  to evaluate the chronological and dental age of children in Lviv and the Lviv region aged 10-13 years with the help of the modified formula Cameriere.  Methods. Оrthopantomograms  46 children (26 boys and 20 girls) aged 10-13 years from Lviv and Lviv region have been used for this study. A questionnaire was developed for the submission of individual patient data and a standardized format for making their indicators derived from orthopantomograms (OPG). The examination of the area of the lower seven teeth on the left was done using the Cameriere method and the age of the child was evaluated, which was further compared with the chronological age.  Results.The obtained results of the study showed a high accuracy and reliability of the estimation of dental age in children up to 10-13 years with the help of the Cameriere formula modified by us. The research is based on the detection of physiological changes (the rate of formation of the roots) in the permanent teeth of children using the X-ray method.  Evaluating the results obtained by two methods, among girls and boys of the selected age group, a statistically significant strong correlation between the chronological age and the age calculated by the Cameriere method was revealed. Cameriere research has been carried out in many countries around the world and, in particular, in European countries, by implementing the general formula. Children in the period of occlusive bite remain the most critical in terms of age and, therefore, the determination of the correct time for dental interventions. In this age group, the development of permanent teeth passes through different stages and depends on many factors of the environment, genetic, geographical and food factors. The process of teething also affects many local factors, such as space and space for a permanent tooth in the dental artery and the loss of temporary precursors. Even with a large number of factors affecting the eruption and formation of permanent teeth in children, this method showed high accuracy and independence. In order to assess the Cameriere method among the children under study and its further practical application, a comparison was made between the age obtained using this methodology and the chronological age of the children under study in different age groups, both among boys and girls. Analyzing the obtained data, it was found that the mean of chronological age among the studied boys aged 10-11 (n = 14) was 11.02 ± 0.59 years, and the Cameriere method was 10.63 ± 1.03 years.  Student's assessment did not reveal a significant difference between the data (p = 0.22) for the age group of 10-11 years.  Further analysis among the studied boys revealed that in the age group 12-13 years the average chronological age was 12.94 ± 0.49 years, and the age was determined by the Cameriere method 12.59 ± 0.63 years, and no significant difference was established between them  (p = 0.14). The results of the studies have shown the suitability of the Cameriere formula modified during the process, based on the assessment of open tops and the number of teeth with completed root formation as a marker for the physiological development of the child and one that can be used to determine the child's age.Since studies had a limited age range on a particular sample of dental patients, further studies should evaluate the utility of this method in a larger sample of children in the extended age range of the given region of Ukraine and, if possible, adjust the formula we modified for the stability of the averaged indicators in different samples by age and sex.

Purpose: to determine the peculiarities of the dynamics of the roentgenomorphometric indices of the jaws in children during the period of mixed bite. Materials and methods. The study assessed the dynamics of radiological indices (mental index (MI), gonial index (GI), upper and lower panoramic mandibular indices (PMI-S and PMI-i)). The study used orthopantomograms of 107 children (65 boys and 42 girls) aged 6–13 years from Lvov and Lviv region. All children were divided into age groups with the preservation of a proportional and harmonious distribution, both by sex and by age. Results. After evaluating the results of the study, the age periods of active restructuring of the bone structure of the child's jaws were identified. A characteristic feature of variations in index indicators is different age phases of active changes for boys and girls. The only common period for both sexes is the age of 9–10 years, when there is an increase in almost all index indicators, which coincides with the beginning of the eruption of multi-rooted teeth. Conclusions. Evaluation of index indicators using orthopantomograms in children during the period of mixed bite is an important diagnostic criterion for detecting active morphometric changes in the bone structures of the maxillofacial region, as well as an auxiliary diagnostic criterion when planning the timing of dental or orthodontic intervention. Key words: orthopantomogram, radiological indices, mental index, gonial index, upper and lower panoramic mandibular indices.