Acurácia da estimativa de idade dentária através de radiografias panorâmicas comparando diferentes métodos em uma subpopulação do nordeste brasileiro

Abstract

Teeth exhibit remarkable durability in their preservation, as they represent the most highly mineralized tissue in the body, remaining intact even after death. For this reason, they can be used in the identification of unknown victims. The use of panoramic radiographs in Forensic Imaging aids the age estimation process, which is carried out through the assessment of dental development and its stages of mineralization. The present study aimed to estimate the age of children and adolescents in a subpopulation from northeastern Brazil. This was accomplished through the analysis of digital panoramic radiographs of individuals whose images were collected at a dental radiology clinic. Four radiographic methods of age estimation were used to evaluate teeth from the left mandibular central incisor to the left mandibular second molar. Based on the results obtained, the predictive power of each method was assessed in comparison with the individual’s chronological age and sex. In addition, the tendency toward error for each method, as well as the agreement among them, was evaluated. A total of 420 digital radiographs were used, which were categorized and randomized using Excel® spreadsheets and subsequently inserted and analyzed with Inkscape®, version 1.0.1 for Windows®. Fisher’s exact test and Pearson’s chi-square test were applied, and the data were interpreted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 20.0 for Windows®, adopting a 95% confidence level. The methods demonstrated different levels of agreement, with minimal variations between sexes.