Dental age assessment of 4–16 year old Western Saudi children and adolescents using Demirjian’s method for forensic dentistry

AimDeveloping teeth are used to assess maturity and estimate age in several disciplines such as pediodontic, orthodontic, pediatric endocrinology and forensic odontology. The aim was to determine the statistical adjustment needed when dental age is estimated using Demirjian’s method for Western Saudi children and adolescents between ages 4 and 16 years of age. Also, to compare a Western Saudi population sample with the original French-Canadian.Methods and materialsThe most common standard for forensic age estimation or analysis of children and sub-adults of Demirjian et al. (1973) was used, with a total of 198 individuals (boys = 88 and girls = 110). The panoramic radiographs were used to score the seven left mandibular teeth.ResultsThe mean difference was 1.44 to 0.64 in girls and from 0.66 to 0.77 in boys. Among girls there was a statistically significant difference for 7, 11, and 15 years (P < 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05), in boys for age groups 8 and 13 only. On average for all ages, Western Saudi Arabia girls were 0.059 (sd = 1.26) years and the boys 0.66 (sd = 1.14) years ahead of the French-Canadian children.ConclusionNew tables were developed in order to convert dental maturity calculation according to Demirjian’s method into estimated age of contemporary Western Saudi population (significant overestimation). For future research, increase in the sample size for all age ranges to establish new maturity scores and logistic curves for the studied population group and comparison with other Saudi children in rural communities found in other regions in Saudi Arabia would be ideal.