Journal of Indian Academy of Oral Medicine and Radiology · Published 2026-01-01 · DOI 10.4103/jiaomr.jiaomr_233_25
Background: The Third Molar Maturity Index (I3M), based on Cameriere’s method, is widely recognized for differentiating stages of dental development to determine whether an individual has likely reached the legal threshold of 18 years. Objectives: The objectives were to estimate chronological age using Cameriere’s method on orthopantomogram (OPG) and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), compare their diagnostic accuracy, and validate the method’s applicability in Western Uttar Pradesh. It also assessed the precision of the Third Molar Maturity Index (I3M) in reliably determining whether individuals are above or below the legal age threshold of 18 years. Methods: This retrospective study included 120 individuals aged 14–24 years. I3M was calculated from OPG and CBCT Images using Cameriere’s formula. Sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy were calculated for each modality. Results: CBCT showed higher sensitivity (93.18%) and specificity (93.75%) than OPG (88.64%, 96.88%, respectively). CBCT achieved better classification accuracy (93.33%) compared to OPG (90.84%). ROC curve analysis confirmed the superior diagnostic performance of CBCT (AUC = 0.935) over OPG (AUC = 0.928). Conclusion: I3M is a valid, reliable, and non-invasive tool for forensic age estimation, with CBCT offering better diagnostic accuracy.
Abstract from DOAJ. Public domain (CC0 1.0).
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