Comparison of the London Atlas method with Cameriere's method of age estimation in South Indian children

Abstract

Introduction: Age estimation is an essential component of forensic science where age is a factor. Dental age is regarded as a reliable, simple, and quick method of determining age in children. The London Atlas of human tooth development and eruption is a recently proposed age estimation method. Aim: The present study aimed to evaluate and compare the accuracy of the London Atlas of tooth Development with Cameriere's method of age estimation in relation to chronological age. Materials and Methods: Panoramic radiographs of 200 healthy individuals between 5 and 15 years were assessed using the simple sampling method. The chronological ages were recorded based on the data on the medical records. The data obtained were analyzed using the SPSS software version 22.0 and expressed in terms of mean and standard deviation. Results and Discussion: The results show that there is no statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) between the data were obtained for London Atlas age estimation and Cameriere's method. The London Atlas method is easier in calculating as it is a software-based program. Conclusions: The London atlas method of age estimation is an accurate method of age estimation in the South Indian population.

Keywords

• age estimation
• cameriere method
• chronological age
• london atlas method
• orthopantomograph