Relación entre la edad cronológica y la calcificación dental del tercer molar inferior mediante el método de Demirjian, en radiografías panorámicas, Azogues 2018-2023.

Abstract

The estimation of chronological age through analysis of the third molar constitutes a reliable and relevant method in forensic dentistry and legal medicine. The Demirjian method is widely used to assess dental maturation. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the relationship between chronological age and dental calcification of the left and right third molars using the Demirjian method on panoramic radiographs. METHODS: Field research with a quantitative approach and a retrospective descriptive design was conducted. A total of 868 digital panoramic radiographs were analyzed to assess the maturation of teeth 3.8 and 4.8; the sample included 408 males and 460 females, aged 7 to 24 years. Sampling was purposive, selecting radiographs that included both lower molars. Analysis was performed in JASP v0.95.0.0 using descriptive and inferential statistics: χ² for association by sex, Student’s t-test and Mann–Whitney U test depending on normality, and Spearman’s rank correlations, with p<0.05. RESULTS: Demirjian stages showed age progression: 3.8 from 9.1 ± 1.0 (A) to 21.8 ± 1.6 (H) and 4.8 from 9.5 ± 2.2 to 21.8 ± 1.6, with concentration in stage G (mean 20 years). The correlation between 3.8 and 4.8 was very high (rs = 0.953). Significant sex differences were identified in stages C, G, and H (both teeth) and stage A (3.8), with a female predominance. Between stages A–C, subjects averaged 12 years; D–E averaged 18 years; and F–H were adults older than 18. The probability of being < 18 years in stages A–C ranged from 100% to 99.18%. Conversely, in advanced stages G and H, the probability of being ≥ 18 years was 94.56% (3.8) and 94.54% (4.8). CONCLUSIONS: Mineralization of the lower third molars evaluated using the Demirjian method allows reliable estimation of the majority age. Advanced stages increase the probability of being ≥ 18 years. The bilateral correlation confirms the consistency of dental development and supports its forensic application.

Keywords: chronological age, third molar, Demirjian.