Application of the ratio of the radiopaque calcified area to the dental follicle (RCA/DF) for dental age assessment on orthopantomograms

Xiaoli Lian; Xiaohua Dai; Yan Yan; Han Lei; Guanhua Wang; Ruixin Li; Yue Wang; Huiru Zou

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2022.111443

Application of the ratio of the radiopaque calcified area to the dental follicle (RCA/DF) for dental age assessment on orthopantomograms

Forensic Sci Int. 2022 Nov:340:111443. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2022.111443. Epub 2022 Aug 27.

Authors

Xiaoli Lian¹, Xiaohua Dai¹, Yan Yan¹, Han Lei², Guanhua Wang¹, Ruixin Li¹, Yue Wang³, Huiru Zou⁴

Affiliations

¹ Tianjin Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Function Reconstruction, Tianjin Stomatological Hospital, the Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nankai University, Tianjin 300041, China.
² Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology, Tianjin Stomatological Hospital, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nankai University, Tianjin 300041, China.
³ Tianjin Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Function Reconstruction, Tianjin Stomatological Hospital, the Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nankai University, Tianjin 300041, China; School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.
⁴ Tianjin Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Function Reconstruction, Tianjin Stomatological Hospital, the Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nankai University, Tianjin 300041, China. Electronic address: zouhuiru@163.com.

PMID: 36049248
DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2022.111443

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed at exploring a new tooth development evaluation method for age assessment and investigating the dynamic alteration and potential trend of tooth development by orthopantomograms (OPGs), in order to provide references for tooth development prediction and forensic purpose.

Materials and methods: A total of 132 OPGs of children aged 3-8 years were collected. The developmental stages of the permanent mandibular second molar (M2)were evaluated by experienced examiners according to the Nolla method and Mimics software, respectively. Quantitative analysis of the ratio of the radiopaque calcified area to the dental follicle (RCA/DF) in different stages, ages, sexes and quadrants were evaluated and compared via descriptive statistics and Spearman's correlation coefficient analysis.

Results: There was a strong, positive correlation between the examiners' evaluation and mimics analysis results. With the age increased, the Nolla stage of M2 observed by OPGs increased, and the RCA/DF showed increased trends both in males and females. There were significant differences of the RCA/DF of the M2 at various ages. The tooth calcification development of female was 9.08% earlier than that of male between 3 and 8 years old. However, teeth of male seemed to develop faster than that of female during this period. There was no significant difference between left and right quadrant either according to the Nolla stage or RCA/DF.

Conclusions: The RCA/DF value obtained from OPGs of the developmental mandibular second permanent molars could be used as a reliable indicator for tooth maturity and age estimation in children aged 3-8 years.

Clinical relevance: Age assessment based on radiographs is considered as a reliable and efficient indicator for judging different types of malocclusion, making suitable orthodontic treatment plan, deciding the extraction time of retained deciduous teeth in clinic practice.

Keywords: Age assessment; Mimics analysis; Nolla stage; Orthopantomogram; Quantitative evaluation; Tooth development.

MeSH terms

Age Determination by Teeth* / methods
Child
Child, Preschool
Dental Sac
Female
Humans
Male
Radiography, Panoramic
Tooth Calcification
Tooth*