A comparison of the dental age estimation methods of Phillips and Proffit in a sample of South African children
Abstract
Introduction: Dental age is an indicator of the physiological maturity
of growing children. Different methods for estimating the dental
age in contrast to the chronological age have been proposed.
Aims and objectives:
The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the accuracy
of the Phillips and the Proffit methods in estimating the dental age
in a mixed sample of South African children.
Methods:
A random selection was completed of 100 panoramic radiographs
of patients with known chronological ages, ranging between 6
and 11 years. Dental age for each radlograph was esdmated using
both the Phillips and the Proffit methods.
Results:
The Phillips method underestimated the age of combined sample
by four months (statistically significant p =0.03}, whilst the age of
the boys sample was underestimated by six months (statistically
significant p <0.0001). For the girls' sample, the Proffit method
underestimated the age by only two days (not statistically
significant p =0.97). Proffit's method underestimated the age of
the boys by two months (not statistically significant (P= 0.15).
Conclusion:
Even though It has not previously been validated, Proffit's
description of dental development has been shown to be accurate
in estimating the dental age.