DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2014.v02i05.036

Pages: 1669-1674

Teeth are the most indestructible part of human body, they preserve well in traumatic settings hence developing teeth are used most reliably in age estimation. The present study was conducted to estimate the age in South Indian children using Schour and Massler method and to evaluate the efficacy of this method by comparing with the chronologic age. The study group comprised of 25 healthy children of 5-16yearsage. Dental age was assessed by directly comparing the tooth development stages on panoramic radiographs with the standards using Schour and Massler chart. Data were analyzed by using paired t-test and intraclass correlation coefficient using SPSS 13 statistical software. The Intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.938 which shows high agreement between the chronologic age and dental age by Schour and Massler’s. The two methods were found to be highly significant. In conclusion, Schour and Massler method was reliable for age estimation in South Indian children. This method of age estimation is simple and accurate and can be applied both in males and females. A new regression formula for the prediction of dental age in South Indian population was developed based on the Schour and Massler method.