Assessing the Accuracy of Cameriere’s Model for Dental Age Estimation on Seven Mandibular Teeth on the Right and Left Sides of Orthopantomogram

Abstract

Introduction: The present study aimed to determine the accuracy of Cameriere’s formula on both the right and left sides of the mandible in the Dakshina Karnataka population of South India and to identify which side is most efficient in determining age. Materials and method: In total, 80 archived digitized panoramic radiographs of healthy children (35 males and 45 females) in the age group of 5–15 years were retrieved and analyzed. Data analysis was conducted using R programing, version 4.3.1, employing paired t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: The mean chronological age of the entire sample was 11.438 ± 3.039 years. The mean estimated age of the whole sample using Cameriere’s method was 10.463 ± 2.574 years on the left side and it was 9.929 ± 2.937 years on the right side. The difference was significant and indicated a consistent underestimation of age using Cameriere’s method. However, when Cameriere’s method was applied on both sides of the orthopantomogram, there was no significant difference noted even though there was a slight underestimation of age on the right side. This suggests that the left side is comparatively better than the right side for age estimation. Conclusion: Future research on Cameriere’s formula for age estimation could benefit from detailed side-specific analyses and longitudinal studies. Investigating why accuracy differs between the left and right sides of the mandible, focusing on anatomical or physiological factors, is crucial. Additionally, longitudinal studies tracking age estimation accuracy over time and across dental development stages can provide insights into how the formula’s precision evolves as individuals grow. These approaches aim to refine the formula and enhance its reliability in various contexts.

Keywords

• age determination by teeth
• forensic dentistry
• panoramic radiography