Demirjian's stages and Cameriere's third molar maturity index to estimate legal adult age in Peruvian population.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the accuracy of Demirjian's stages (DS) and Cameriere's third molar maturity index cut-off value (I<0.08) to estimate the age of majority on panoramic radiographs (OPTs) from the dental clinic of the Scientific University of the South (UCSUR), Lima, Peru.

METHODS

An observational cross-sectional study was conducted on the sample of 208 digital panoramic radiographs of patients aged 14-22years examined during 2015 in UCSUR. The left lower third molars were analyzed using Adobe Photoshop® CS6. An effectiveness of specific DS and I<0.08 was evaluated by using accurate classification, sensitivity, specificity, positive (LR+) and negative (LR-) likelihood ratios and Bayes post-test probability (p).

RESULTS

Only G and H stages were practical for classify adults and minors in the tested sample, while I<0.08 showed the best performance in both sexes. For I<0.08, the accurate classification, sensitivity and specificity were 0.96, 0.96, 0.96 and 0.90, 0.84 and 0.95 in males and females, respectively. Values of LR+, LR- and p were 24.96, 0.04, 0.97 and 15.68, 0.17, 0.95 in males and females, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The specific cut-off value of third molar maturity index (I<0.08) showed to be more accurate in discriminating adults and minors in Peruvian sample when a test with high sensitivity and specificity is required.