Objectives: Dental ageing systems are useful for forensic,
research and clinical purposes. As no data exists relating to the
dental development of the Maltese population, we set up a pilot
study to initiate formation of a set of tables pertaining to the
dental development of Maltese schoolchildren.
Methods: Panoramic radiographic records of 120 patients
aged 11 to 14 years were sequentially collected from the records
kept at the School Dental Clinic, Floriana and St Luke’s Hospital.
These records were matched for age and sex. The calcification
of the teeth was graded according to Nolla (1960) and the results
obtained compared to Nolla’s tables to determine how closely
the Maltese population conforms to these tables.
Results: We found no significant difference between the
estimated (dental) age and the chronological age of male
schoolchildren. A significant difference existed for female
schoolchildren. The dental age of the female schoolchildren was
delayed when compared to that of male schoolchildren.
Conclusion: Nolla’s tables require to be adjusted to take
into account the variation in dental development of the Maltese
population. Maltese schoolgirls exhibit slower dental
development when compared to the figures given in the
literature.peer-reviewe
