Application and validation of Lamendin et al.'s adult age estimation method using mandibular premolar teeth on Western Indian (Gujarati) population: An experimental study

Aim: To evaluate the applicability of the method by Lamendin et al. for adult dental age estimation using extracted single-rooted mandibular first premolar in the Western Indian population and to develop a new regression equation. Materials and Methods: Ninety-seven extracted mandibular first premolars were collected from patients in the age range of 15-75 years. The root height, root translucency, and periodontosis parameters were measured. Lamendin's formula was tested on 77 randomly selected specimens. The regression formula was applied to the remaining 20 specimens to validate the same. The data were analyzed using the Interclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), paired t-tests, and Pearson's correlation tests. Results: The mean estimated age using Lamendin's original formula was 44.75 years (+/- 10.52) for the overall sample (N = 77). There was an overestimation of the age of the study sample by 0.11 year (SD = 11.14; df = 76; P > 0.05). The regression equation based on the data of the mandibular first premolar was Age (Yrs.) =18.423 + 0.441 (P) +0.423 (T) with a SEE = 11.07; r(2) = 0.540; Sig. P <0.001. The mean estimated age of the test sample (N = 20) was 35.85 years +/- 7.32 (P < 0.05) and 37.87 +/- 6.19 (P > 0.05) by applying the new premolar formula and Lamendin's original formula, respectively. Conclusion: A strong positive correlation was found between the actual age and the estimated age using Lamendin's method, and there was no significant difference between the actual age and the estimated age of the study population using Lamendin's original and new premolar formula.