Applicability of Cameriere's method of age estimation in children on Nepalese population residing in central region of Nepal

Introduction: Forensic sciences have been using dental age assessment as a vital part of their procedures. Age have been calculated by many other methods in the past like determination of height and its relation to age was done in early 17th century in England. One of the latest methods introduced in 2006 by Cameriere et al uses the measurement of the apical opening of the teeth and then relates it to the age of the child. The pioneer study was done in European population but it followed many other studies done in various populations. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was done by using the orthopantomograms of 250 children were evaluated in the age range of 5-13 year belonging to both genders. 150 belong to males and 100 to females. Dental age was estimated by using the dental equation given by Cameriere et al. It was then compared with the chronological age. Results and conclusion: mean values of the dental age calculated by this method and the known chronological age were examined, an underestimation of 0.16 years was found. On further analysis based on gender, an underestimation of 0.23 years was found in girls and 0.12 years in boys. This study shows that the European linear equation given by Cameriere et al is applicable to the Nepalese population residing in central region of Nepal although with a little underestimation. But this can be used for practical purpose of age estimation in cases involving subjects dead or alive. Keywords: Forensic sciences, Age estimation, Demirijian method, Cameriere’s method.