Third molar development in relation to chronological age in Romanian children and young adults

L. Golovcencu, C. Scripcaru, G. Zegan

Abstract: Examination of the developmental stage of third molars using orthopantomograms can be a useful tool for chronological age determination in the field of legal and forensic medicine. The aim of this study was to assess third molar third molar developmental stages in a sample of Romanian population, to determine chronologic age estimates based on developmental stages, to compare third molar development by sex, age and location. Orthopantomograms of 250 Romanian patients, from the Department of Orthodontics from Universitary Hospital “Sf. Spiridon” Iasi, aged between 11-25 years old, were examined and third-molar developmental stages were evaluated based on Nolla’s classification. Linear regression analysis was performed to correlate third molar development and chronological age, and other statistical analyses were performed to determine relation between sex, age and location. Results showed a strong correlation between age and molar development (r2 = 0.93 and r2 =0.95 for males in the upper and lower jaw and r2 = 0.92 and r2 = 0.94 for females). Males achieve third molar development earlier than females and upper third molars exhibit a greater degree of development than lower third molars at the same chronological age.
Keywords: third molar, orthopantomography, developmental dental stage, chronological age