The technique devised by Nolla is widely used in teaching and clinical practice. Tooth development is a continuous process displaying specific mineralization stages without being influenced by external factors., Nolla's method uses this concept and estimates dental age based on stages of mineralization of permanent tooth that is graded on a scale of 0-10. Further, the human tooth being an enduring tissue shows negligible changes during life.,Īlthough various methods of dental age assessment methods are available, age estimation using tooth mineralization is more reliable. However, age estimation using tooth development is a time-tested method as it is influenced mostly by genetics and less affected by environmental factors. Most of these methods are often expensive and imprecise. Dental age estimation helps orthodontists to plan the timing of particular treatments in children as dental maturity varies with different forms of malocclusion.Īge assessment can be done using biomarkers, secondary sexual characters, physical examinations, histological analysis, radiometric analysis, and radiographic evaluations. In the clinical scenario, age assessment in children serves a pediatric dentist to assess whether the dental maturity of a child is delayed or advanced in case of a specific disease. Age estimation applicability in different areas of science makes it a vital tool in identifying the age of both living and dead individuals. Age Assessment is critical in various civil and criminal scenes as well as in mass disaster situations. Chronological age is essential in many societies for school attendance, social benefits, employment, and marriage. Conclusion: Nolla's method is suitable for estimating chronological age in Southern Saudi children, as the mean difference between estimated dental age and chronological age was within an acceptable range.Įstimating age in children is of paramount importance when chronological age is questionable. Pearson's correlation coefficient showed a strong positive correlation (r = 0.95 for males and r = 0.94 for females) between estimated dental age and chronological age. The mean difference between estimated dental age and chronological age in males ranged from -2.68 to -6 months and -2.17 to -4.24 months in females. Results: There was a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) between the estimated dental age and chronological age in all age groups irrespective of gender. Correlation between chronological age and dental age was analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient. The mean difference between dental age and chronological age was calculated using a paired t-test. Seven permanent left mandibular teeth were assessed as per Nolla's method to record dental age. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study involved a retrospective evaluation of 458 orthopantomographs (187 males and 271 females) of 5-11 years old healthy Saudi children. Objectives: The aim of this study was to test the accuracy of estimating chronological age using Nolla's method of dental age assessment in a Saudi Arabian population considering sex and age group variables.