Estimate Chronological age in Adult and Children Using Third Molar Development Stages

Background: In human body teeth are the most long lasting structure. In age determination of unidentified bodies the pattern of teeth development used as a credible technique. The last erupted teeth are third molars / wisdom teeth and regarded as most variable in dentition. For estimation of chronological age, development stages of third molar tooth growth used. Aim: To assess judgment of chronologic age based on the development stages of third molar growth. Methods: The cross-sectional study was carried out at Nishtar Institute of Dentistry, Multan from 16.1.2016 to 20.1.2018. Final sample consist of 600 orthopantomograms from young population of known chronologic age ranging 9 years to 26 years; mean age 15.94 +/- 72 years and sex in which males were 260 with mean age of 15.53 +/- 3.75 year and 340 were females with mean age of 16.36 +/- 3.89 year. Results: Between male and female third molar development showed the stages of calcification D&G p<0.05 significant difference statistically. Males were earlier attained genesis of third molar as compared to females. Strong association showed among age & growth of third molar for males r(2) = 0.64 and r(2) = 0.60 for females. For estimation of chronologic age, equation was derived age = 9.42 +/- 1.60 development stage. Conclusion: Third molar is suitable development marker particularly when comparing obtained standard deviation with other methods for calculation of skeletal age.