Accuracy of age estimation using three dental development schemas

Objectives: To compare the accuracy of The London Atlas of human tooth development and eruption and two schemas of dental development. Methods: Age of 1434 individuals was estimated using three age estimation schemas: Schour and Massler (SM), Ubelaker (Ub) and The London Atlas (LA). The sample was made up of known age-at-death skeletal remains younger than two years of age (N=112) and archived dental radiographs of individuals aged 2-23 years (N=1322). Estimated age was compared to real age using a t-test and the mean difference, standard deviation and absolute mean differences were calculated. Intra-observer variation was measured by re-assessment of 130 radiographs and calculated using Kappa. Results: Excellent reproducibility was observed for all three methods (Kappa: SM 0.838, Ub 0.857 and LA 0.879).The mean difference between estimated and real age was similar for the two older methods (SM: -0.55, ± 1.49 years; and Ub: -0.59, ± 1.49 years), both showing significant bias (P<0.001). These methods consistently underestimated age, while The London Atlas estimated age with no bias (-0.0009, ± 1.09 years). The mean absolute difference using LA was 0.72 years, considerably better than SM at 1.15 and Ub at 1.17 years. The London Atlas provides a substantial improvement in the ability to accurately estimate age from developing teeth. The London Atlas performed better than 19 other dental age estimation methods for the age group 3-16.99 years using the same test sample (Liversidge et al. 2010 Am J Phys Anthropol 143:545). Conclusion: The London Atlas estimated age more accurately and with no bias compared to Schour and Massler and Ubelaker schemas.