Comparative evaluation of Nolla, Willems and Cameriere methods for age estimation of Turkish children in the Central Black Sea region

Aim: Since the accuracy and reliability levels of tooth age estimation methods differ in each society, the method to be used should be suitable for the societies. The aim of our study is to evaluate the applicability of Nolla, Willems and Cameriere methods to Turkish children. Material and Methods: This study was performed on the panoramic radiographs of 400 children aged 6-14 years, who applied to Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Pediatric Dentistry for examination between 2016-2020. Dental age estimations on selected panoramic radiographs were made using Cameriere, Nolla and Willems methods. For the Nolla method, 14 teeth were evaluated in the left mandible and maxilla, and 7 teeth were evaluated in the left mandible for Willems and Cameriere. Data were analyzed with IBM SPSS V23. Results: The mean chronological age of the patients was 10.3±2,5 years (10.5±2.5 years in girls, 10.1±2,4 years in boys). The mean differences between dental age and chronological age in girls in each age group were -0.27 years in the Nolla method, -0.1 years in the Cameriere method, and +0.76 years in the Willems method. The mean differences between dental age and chronological age in males in each age group were -0.24 years in the Nolla method, -0.17 years in the Cameriere method, and +0.49 years in the Willems method. Conclusion: In our study, the method that made the closest estimation to the chronological age in children aged 6-14.99 years, whom we examined in the Central Black Sea Region, was the Cameriere method for both girls (79.9%) and boys (80.6%). Nolla method came in the second sequence and Willems method came last.