Child’s dental age as a biological marker of individual development

Abstract

Introduction: Assessment of children’s dental age is an important problem in pediatric dentistry, endocrinology, and orthodontics. Orthodontists, by comparing dental age with chronological age, can predict the schedule of treatment and choose the optimal treatment period. For pediatricians, is important to know dental maturity of children with certain diseases, whose treatment may be accelerated or postponed. Objectives: The objective of the study was to evaluate Cameriere’s method of dental age assessment technique as a biomarker of child’s individual development. Material and methods: The study included 108 children, aged between 6 and 13 years, in whom chronological age was compared with dental age assessed by Cameriere’s method. The determined age was compared with the chronological age of children. Results: It was found that the average chronological age among the surveyed boys (n = 65) was 9.97 ± 2.27 years, and the age estimated based on Cameriere’s method was 9.77 ± 2.24 years. Similarly, among the girls (n = 43), the mean chronological age was 10.05 ± 2.15 years, and the estimated age was 10.30 ± 2.17. Statistical analysis of correlation of the dental and calendar (chronological) ages revealed a certain percentage of children who did not fit into general average description and were beyond reliable data. Conclusions: Determination of dental age as a marker of biological maturity, in some cases, may indicate a deviation from the average results. Such children need individual correction of standard treatment regimens, involving timing of treatment, degree of biological maturity, and body’s readiness for a medical intervention.