Third molar classification using Gleiser and Hunt system modified by Khöler in Russian adolescents – Age threshold of 14 and 16

Objective: this study tested the applicability of Gleiser and Hunt dental staging system modified by Kohler (GHK) on third molar classification considering the age thresholds of legal interest of 14 and 16 years.

Design: 918 panoramic radiographs of Russian females and males aged between 8 and 23 years were collected. 3M development was classified based on the GHK technique. Ordinal logistic regression was used to test the performance of the technique to separate the Russian individuals as being under or over the age of 14 and 16. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves with their respective area under the curve (AUC) were used to quantify the accuracy of the proposed research set up.

Results: AUC was 0.834 (± 0.021) and 0.858 (± 0.016) for separating individuals under of over 14 and 16 respectively (females and males combined).

Conclusion: The staging technique (GHK) had potential applicability to separate Russian adolescents as younger or older than 14 or 16 years. However, future study set ups with narrower age intervals must be designed to challenge the regression approach with a more difficult separation. Whenever applicable, techniques based on other developing permanent teeth (possibly for the age of 14) must be used.