Abstract
Dental age assessment plays a pivotal role in clinical practice, demographic studies, forensics, and courts of law but is affected by ethnic and geographic variations. The aim was to determine the population-specific weighted scores needed when dental age is estimated using Demirjian's method for Saudi children and adolescents between the ages of 3 and 15 years. Design: A total of 298 panoramic radiographs were collected from Saudi Arabia. Dental age was assessed using Demirjian's method (1973). Chronological age was determined from the date of birth and the date on which the panoramic radiograph was taken for each individual. Between 3- and 15-years age group, the Saudi boys had an estimated age of 9.07 +/- 1.96 years and chronological age of 8.49 +/- 2.30 years. The Saudi girls had an estimated age of 9.22 +/- 1.93 years and chronological age of 8.78 +/- 2.32 years. With Demirjian's method, the Saudi boys were 0.57 +/- 1.48 years, and girls were 0.44 +/- 1.66 years ahead of their chronological ages (p < .05). New population-specific weighted scores were developed to convert dental age according to Demirjian's method into estimated ages in the contemporary Saudi Arabian population. This study can be used for further research and comparisons with other population groups, regions or communities.