Estimation Of The Correction Factor To Assess The Chronological Age Of Ghanaian Children And Adolescents Using The Demirjian Method

Estimation of the Correction Factor to Assess Chronological Age

Abstract

Objective: To ascertain the correction factor for age estimation using the Demirjian method applicable to the study population in Accra, Ghana.

Methodology: It is a cross-sectional study of a secondary data involving 255 participants made up of 115 boys and 140 girls age between 5 and 18 years, attending the University of Ghana Dental School Clinic, Accra, Ghana. Their medical records were scrutinized for chronological age and their dental orthopantomograms analyzed for dental maturity scores and converted to dental age.

Results: Statistically, there was no significant difference between chronological age on one hand and both Demirjian age estimate and corrected factor predicted age. Factor predicted age however more closely matched chronological age. Above 15 years, the Demirjian method could not be applied to ascertain dental ages for boys.

Conclusion: Application of the factor predicted estimate to the Demirjian method can reliably predict the chronological age in the study population.