Accuracy of population-specific Demirjian curves in the estimation of dental age of Saudi children

Background. The Demirjian eight-stage method is one of the principal methods used to quantify the degree of maturity from age 3 to 17. Aim. The objective of this study was to compare the accuracy of dental age of different populationspecific curves, derived using the Demirjian method, to the chronological age of Saudi children aged between 4 and 14. Design. Panoramic radiographic records of 176 children (91 boys and 85 girls), without any history of systemic disease, were assessed using the Demirjian method, and the dental age was calculated using curves designed for French-Canadian, Belgian, Kuwaiti, and Saudi children. The difference from chronological age (DA-CA) for each curve was then statistically compared using ANOVA, and each of the curves was compared to the chronological age using multinomial regression modelling. Results. The results suggest that although population- specific curves are more accurate in the prediction of age, a considerable variation within each population still exists. Conclusions. The Demirjian method offers great scope in fields that require the study of the pattern of growth rather than the accuracy of age estimation.