INTRODUCTION:
In recent years some studies have been taken to evaluate the applicability of the third molar development analysis in the estimation of human age. However, just a few studies with the population from Midwest Brazil were performed.
OBJECTIVE:
The present study aim to analyze the relationship between the lower third molars development stage and the chronological age of individuals in Midwest Brazil region.
MATERIAL AND METHOD:
This cross-sectional observational study comprised a total of 120 panoramic radiographies of patients aged 5-22 year-old, males and females, attended between 2007 and 2012 at our Institution. The third molars development stage was analyzed based on the method described by Nolla and related with the chronological age of the individual by linear regression. It was considered significant values for linear tendency between 0-1.
RESULT:
It was observed that both, male patients (R2 = 0.7495) and females (R2 = 0.8507), showed a linear correlation between the third molars development stage and chronological age. It was also noted that the development stages coincided with similar ages in both genders.
CONCLUSION:
There is a relationship between chronological age and developmental stage of the third molars in the sample studied. These data suggest that this type of analysis should be individualized according to the population characteristics.
Panoramic radiography; third molar; age determination by teeth
