Adapting Demirjian Standards for Portuguese and Spanish Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Estimation of children’s chronological age is highly important in human and forensic sciences. The Demirjian method has been reported as accurate for this purpose. The literature review shows some evidence that the accuracy of estimating chronological age via the Demirjian standards is not a straightforward process. The objective of this research is to analyze the reliability of the Demirjian standards in Portuguese and Spanish children and adolescents and adapt it to include sex and group age as contingent factors. Methods: Orthopantomographs of 574 Portuguese and Spanish male and female children and adolescents were employed to test the reliability of the Demirjian method. After testing for inter-rater consistency and age estimation using the Demirjian standards, multiple regression analysis was performed controlling for sex and age group. Results: The Demirjian standards overestimated chronological age for both sexes, mainly for females. Through the development of regression functions, more detailed dental age estimation was performed. The predictive capacities of the Demirjian method and the significant teeth varied as a function of children’s age. The Demirjian global standard predicted over 65% of the variance of the chronological age. Taking a tooth-by-tooth approach, the predictive ability increased by over 70%. Conclusions: The accuracy of estimating chronological age via the Demirjian method is not as reliable as it might appear, judging from the results found according to age group and according to sex crossed with age group.

Characteristics of the Gingival Epithelium of Children’s Third Molars at Different Stages of Root Formation

“…The clinical examination of the children was carried out using conventional methods. Radiographic assessment of the condition of the third molar ridges was performed according to the Demirjian method [21], which is currently widely used internationally [22,23]. Clinically and radiographically, three observation groups were identifi ed: I (n=30) -children aged 11-13 years whose third molar was at the stage of weakly mineralized rudiment (Demirjian stage D); II (n=35) -children aged 13-16 years whose third molar was at the stage of mineralized rudiment and the initial stages of root formation (Demirjian stages E and F) and III (n=30)children aged 16-18 years whose third molar was at the fi nal stages of root formation (Demirjian stages G and H).…”

Dental Radiography in Age Determination: Contemporary Methods and Trends

“…A review of studies published in the Pubmed database 84 studies were excluded due to the criteria, in total, 71 studies underwent thorough assessment. (6,23,32,45,47,48, The publication count being at its highest in 2022 and following by in 2021 and 2020. Furthermore, the objective was to locate the most recent trend studies, which prompted the inclusion of studies up to 2023.…”

“…Within this category, the Demirjian staging method remains highly popular. However, certain studies have raised concerns about its potential for age overestimation (10,45,71,83,92) , while the Willems method, modified from Demirjian's, has demonstrated greater accuracy in some studies (14,71,82,92,130) but yielded contrasting results in others. (13,15) The assessment of open apices, as pioneered by Cameriere, is also extensively employed and has been reported to provide more accurate age estimations compared to Demirjian (101) and Willems in some instances, although another has noted potential age underestimation.…”