ACCURACY IN THE METHODS OF MOOREES AND CAMERIERE IN PANORAMICS OF CHILDREN FROM TUCUMAN

INTRODUCTION: There are different radiographic methods to determine the chronological age including those of Moorrees and Cameriere. Individuals’ age is relevant in the fields of Legal and Forensic Odontology, Orthodontics and Pediatrics’ Odontology. OBJECTIVE: To determine the accuracy of the estimation of individuals’ chronological age according to the methods of Moorrees and Cameriere.  MATERIALS AND METHODS: 219 children were randomly selected. They assisted to the institutional clinical image services as previous studies of the orthodontic treatment; 106 were boys and 113 were girls aged between 5 and 12 years old. Some digital panoramic radiographs (Rx Vatech pax 500 Corea) were taken to patients. Previous consent and permission from the ethics committee was obtained. Chronological age was calculated between the date in which the study was carried out and the date of birth. Dental age was determined by means of panoramic radiographs following the procedure proposed by Cameriere and the study of stages development proposed by Moorrees. Data about chronological age and dental age was analyzed through the paired test T in comparison of both methods. RESULTS: The descriptive statistics of both variables, chronological age and dental age for boys, were: chronological age x’=8.94±1.84 / Moorrees dental age x’=6.51±0.96 / Cameriere dental age x’=8.73±1.65. A considerable difference was observed between the chronological age and the Moorrees dental age (p<0.001) with an underestimation of -2.43 years. No significant statistical difference was found between the Cameriere dental age and the chronological age (p>0.05) with an underestimation of -0.2 years. For girls: chronological age 8.95±1.73 / Moorrees dental age x’=6.27±0.92 / Cameriere dental age x’=8.86±1.53. A significant difference was observed between the chronological age and the Moorrees dental age (p<0.001) with an underestimation of -2.67 years. There was no relevant difference between the Cameriere dental age and the chronological age (p>0.05) with an underestimation of -0.08. CONCLUSION: Estimation of dental age through the Cameriere method was more accurate than the Moorrees method for both boys and girls, being even more accurate in the latter group.