Testing and comparing the accuracy of two dental age estimation methods on saudi children: measurements of open apices in teeth and the London Atlas of Tooth Development

Evaluation of dental development is frequently performed to assess maturity and estimate age. The aim of this study was to test and compare the accuracy of two dental age estimation methods in a sample of Saudi children by using Cameriere’s formula (measurements of mandibular teeth open apices) and The London Atlas of Tooth Development. Four hundred archived digital panoramic radiographs of healthy children (200 males and 200 females) between the ages of 6 to 15.99 years attending the Pediatric Dental clinics of King Saud University, College of Dentistry, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia were used. The mean difference between the Estimated Age (EA) and Real Age (RA) was (−0.89 years) for Cameriere’s formula with a standard deviation of (±1.14 years), and it was (−0.59 years) with a standard deviation of (±1.45 years) for The London Atlas. Both methods consistently underestimated the age. No statistically significant difference between the sexes was found in both methods In conclusion, the London Atlas was found to be slightly more accurate and easier to use than was Cameriere’s formula