Abstract：
This retrospective study was conducted to evaluate different methods for dental age estimation in children and to examine the feasibility of using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) data for age estimation. A total of 200 radiographic records (both digital panoramic radiographs and CBCTs) were acquired from 100 children aged 9 to 16 years, all taken on the same dates. Radiographic data was acquired from archived records and included both panoramic radiography and CBCT data belonging to the same individual. CBCT was used when panoramic radiographic data was insufficient. The pulp volume and pulp/tooth volume ratio of the left first molar teeth in the mandible were calculated from the CBCT data using MIMICS software. In addition, age was estimated by the Demirjian and Willems methods from data obtained from panoramic radiography images. Statistical analyses and linear regression analysis were performed as necessary. There was a statistically significant difference between the mean difference between the Demirjian method and chronological age, and between the Willems method and chronological age (p < 0.001). Statistically significance was achieved in a linear regression model created from pulp volume (R2 = 0.098) and pulp/tooth volume ratio (R2 = 0.395) data for the estimated dental age analysis (p < 0.001) and a negative correlation was observed with chronological age. When compared estimated dental age from CBCT data with chronological age, the pulp/tooth volume ratio method yielded results closer to chronological age than using only pulp volume data. When considering both panoramic radiographic age estimation methods and age estimation methods using CBCT data, we found that the results obtained with the Willems method, a panoramic radiographic age estimation technique, provided the closest results to the chronological age. More contributions should be made to the literature regarding the feasibility of age estimation using pulp and tooth volume as an alternative method.
摘要：
进行这项回顾性研究是为了评估儿童牙齿年龄估计的不同方法，并检查使用锥形束计算机断层扫描（CBCT）数据进行年龄估计的可行性。共从100名9至16岁的儿童中获取了200份射线照相记录（包括数字全景射线照相和CBCT），都是在相同的日期拍摄的。射线照相数据是从存档记录中获取的，包括全景射线照相和属于同一个人的CBCT数据。当全景射线照相数据不足时，使用CBCT。使用MIMICS软件从CBCT数据计算下颌骨中左第一磨牙的牙髓体积和牙髓/牙齿体积比。此外,年龄是通过Demirjian和Willems方法从全景射线照相图像获得的数据中估算的。必要时进行统计分析和线性回归分析。Demirjian法的均数差异与实际年龄有统计学意义,以及Willims方法和实际年龄之间(p<0.001)。在从牙髓体积(R2=0.098)和牙髓/牙齿体积比(R2=0.395)数据创建的线性回归模型中,对于估计的牙齿年龄分析(p<0.001)实现统计学上的显著性,并且观察到与实际年龄的负相关。当将CBCT数据的估计牙齿年龄与实际年龄进行比较时，与仅使用牙髓体积数据相比，牙髓/牙齿体积比方法得出的结果更接近实际年龄。当同时考虑全景射线照相年龄估计方法和使用CBCT数据的年龄估计方法时，我们发现用Willems方法获得的结果，全景射线照相年龄估计技术，提供了与实际年龄最接近的结果。关于使用牙髓和牙齿体积作为替代方法进行年龄估计的可行性，应该对文献做出更多贡献。
