ABSTRACT

The aim of this study is to discuss the reliability and utility of Demirjian method used at calculating dental age determination with the help of using the data of other countries.

The data of 22 studies, in which dental age determination was done by Demirjian method between the age of 7 - 11 age range from different countries or different regions from the same country, was examined. The inclusion standard in the studies was defined as this study; examining on healthy children, using panaromic films, researching on left bottom mandibular seven teeth. Data belong to girls and boys at the age range of 7-11 and data related with their chronological age and dental age’s defined by Demirjian method was organized in tabular and the differences between dental age and chronological age were evaluated. After variance analysis at the factorial order in the data analysis, Bonferroni test was used for multiple comparisons. Type 1 error was pegged at 0,05 (α=0,05).

As a result of assessments, from the point of dental age designated by Demirjian method and chronological age, a difference has been detected between the children who live at different countries and live at different regions of the same country. Negative and positive differences has been detected with regards to the utility of Demirjian method by the samples taken from Netherlands, Turkey, Sudan, China, Serbia, Italy, Pakistan, New Zealand, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Malaysia and India. The difference between the results of the Belgian children who live in Romania, Iran, India and children who live in other socities were not that meaningful.

Juvenescence and development at children differ from person to person and society to society because of reasons such as heritage, gender, hormones, nutrition, socio-cultural and environmental factors and previous diseases. Development of teeth are under the influence of familiar factors and because of this reason when scoring system in order to designate dental age of French-Canadian origin children, applied to different societies, important differences could be seen between chronological age and dental age. In order to overcome this difference, this method needs modification according to the social feautres.

Keywords: Dental Age, Chronological Age, Demirjian