Dental Age Assessment: Validity of the Nolla Method in a Group of Western Turkish Children

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of the Nolla
\nmethod for dental age estimation in western Turkish children. This
\nstudy consisted of 688 orthopantomograms of patients of western
\nTurkish children aged between 7 and 17 years. Dental maturity was
\nevaluated according to the stages proposed by Nolla. A paired
\nt-test was used for statistical analysis. The mean difference between
\nthe chronological and dental ages ranged from -1 to 0.13 years for
\nmales and from -1.15 to 0.25 years for females. The differences
\nbetween the CA and DA were statistically significant in 10-10.9,
\n11-11.9, and 12-12.9 year age groups for males (p<0.05). The
\ndifferences between the CA and DA were statistically significant in
\n7-7.9, 8-8.9, 9-9.9, 10-10.9, and 11-11.9 year age groups for females
\n(p<0.05). The applicability of Nolla method is suitable for western
\nTurkish children except ages 10, 11 and 12 in males and 7, 8, 9, 10
\nand 11 in females. Therefore, in this study, it is suggested that there
\nis a need for standardization in the Turkish population in age
\nestimation.