Dental age estimation in the Chhattisgarhi population: A comparative study of Demirjian and Willems methods

IF 1.7 4区医学 Q3 MEDICINE, LEGAL

Journal of forensic and legal medicine Pub Date : 2026-07-01 Epub Date: 2026-06-21 DOI:10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103195

Archana Tiwari, Shubham Kumar Indurkar, Krishnadutt Chavali

{"title":"Dental age estimation in the Chhattisgarhi population: A comparative study of Demirjian and Willems methods","authors":"Archana Tiwari, Shubham Kumar Indurkar, Krishnadutt Chavali","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103195","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Forensic identification, pediatric dentistry, and medico-legal investigations all often utilize dental age estimation. Demirjian and Willems methods are frequently used when estimating dental maturity; however, their accuracy varies across different groups, pointing to the need for population specific validation.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>Aim of the current study was to compare and assess the reliability of the Demirjian and Willems for estimating dental age in the children from the Indian state of Chhattisgarh.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using 142 orthopantomograms of children aged 10–16 years. Dental age was estimated using Demirjian and Willems methods based on the developmental stages of the seven left mandibular permanent teeth. The accuracy was assessed using mean error (ME) and mean absolute error (MAE). Pearson correlation and paired t-tests were used to evaluate statistical analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The Demirjian method showed a tendency to overestimate age in younger individuals and underestimate age in older age groups. The Willems method demonstrated comparatively smaller deviations from chronological age and often yielded better and more reliable age estimates. Both methods show positive correlation between chronological age and dental age.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The Willems method showed higher accuracy than the Demirjian method in this Chhattisgarhi population for dental age estimation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"121 ","pages":"Article 103195"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7000,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1752928X26001277","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2026/6/21 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"MEDICINE, LEGAL","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Forensic identification, pediatric dentistry, and medico-legal investigations all often utilize dental age estimation. Demirjian and Willems methods are frequently used when estimating dental maturity; however, their accuracy varies across different groups, pointing to the need for population specific validation.

Aim

Aim of the current study was to compare and assess the reliability of the Demirjian and Willems for estimating dental age in the children from the Indian state of Chhattisgarh.

Methods

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using 142 orthopantomograms of children aged 10–16 years. Dental age was estimated using Demirjian and Willems methods based on the developmental stages of the seven left mandibular permanent teeth. The accuracy was assessed using mean error (ME) and mean absolute error (MAE). Pearson correlation and paired t-tests were used to evaluate statistical analysis.

Results

The Demirjian method showed a tendency to overestimate age in younger individuals and underestimate age in older age groups. The Willems method demonstrated comparatively smaller deviations from chronological age and often yielded better and more reliable age estimates. Both methods show positive correlation between chronological age and dental age.

Conclusion

The Willems method showed higher accuracy than the Demirjian method in this Chhattisgarhi population for dental age estimation.

Abstract Image

查看原文本刊更多论文

恰蒂斯加尔邦人口牙齿年龄估计：Demirjian和Willems方法的比较研究。

背景：法医鉴定，儿童牙科和医学法律调查都经常使用牙齿年龄估计。Demirjian和Willems方法在估计牙齿成熟度时经常使用；然而，它们的准确性在不同的群体中有所不同，这表明需要对特定人群进行验证。目的：本研究的目的是比较和评估Demirjian和Willems在估计印度恰蒂斯加尔邦儿童牙齿年龄方面的可靠性。方法：对142例10 ~ 16岁儿童进行回顾性横断面研究。根据左侧7颗下颌恒牙的发育阶段，采用Demirjian和Willems法估计牙龄。采用平均误差（ME）和平均绝对误差（MAE）评估准确性。统计学分析采用Pearson相关检验和配对t检验。结果：Demirjian方法在年轻人中有高估年龄的倾向，在老年人中有低估年龄的倾向。Willems的方法与实足年龄的偏差相对较小，通常得出更好、更可靠的年龄估计。两种方法均显示实足年龄与牙龄呈正相关。结论：在恰蒂斯加尔邦人群中，Willems法比Demirjian法具有更高的牙龄估计精度。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Journal of forensic and legal medicine MEDICINE, LEGAL-

CiteScore

2.70

自引率

6.70%

发文量

106

审稿时长

57 days

期刊介绍： The Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine publishes topical articles on aspects of forensic and legal medicine. Specifically the Journal supports research that explores the medical principles of care and forensic assessment of individuals, whether adult or child, in contact with the judicial system. It is a fully peer-review hybrid journal with a broad international perspective. The Journal accepts submissions of original research, review articles, and pertinent case studies, editorials, and commentaries in relevant areas of Forensic and Legal Medicine, Context of Practice, and Education and Training. The Journal adheres to strict publication ethical guidelines, and actively supports a culture of inclusive and representative publication.