Discrepancy between chronological age and evaluated dental age using the Demirjian system in Western Australian children

The aims of this work were to assess dental age using the Demirjian system and to evaluate the discrepancy between chronological and dental age among children residing in Western Australia. Forty panoramic radiographs of 5- to 11-year-old children taken at the paediatric clinic of a dental hospital in Western Australia were selected. The developmental stage of each left permanent mandibular tooth excluding the third molar was assessed by three trained examiners. Estimated dental age using the Demirjian system was compared with the chronological age of each child. The accuracy of the Demirjian system in this group of children was 42.5%. The difference between chronological age and dental age was significant (t = 4.066, df = 39, p < 0.001). Dental age estimation for Caucasian children had greater accuracy (?2 = 5.013, df = 1, p = 0.025). Gender and orthodontic concerns were not related to the accuracy of the Demirjian system (p = 0.481). The discrepancy between chronological and dental age using the Demirjian system was significant when assessing the Western Australian population although it was more accurate for Caucasian children. The accuracy was similar between subjects with and without orthodontic concerns.