Development of oral age estimation models in Korean adults

Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop oral age estimation models for Korean adults using clinical, socio-economic and behavioral variables from national oral health survey data.

Methods: The study was based on 1st National Dental Health Survey of Korea in 2000. The subjects were 8925(3644 males, 5281 females) and they were just adults over 18 years. Among 12 clinical variables, three variables (Functioning teeth; FS_T, Present prosthesis needs; Pros_N, Sum of CPI values; T_Perio) which were high relevant to oral age were chosen and primary multi-regression model was constructed. Primary multi-regression model was adjusted by two steps. The first step was compensatory process of difference from estimating oral age between real oral age. The second step was made up for the validity using six socio-economic and behavioral variables(state of health insurance; H_IN, number of brushing per day; Brush, lately number of dental clinic visiting; Visiting, reason of dental clinic visiting; V_Why, smoking and that period; Smoking, whether or not using floss; Floss).

Results: Oral age estimating models were as follows.

1. Primary multi-regression model; 55.00 -0.85 × FS_T + 0.80 × Pros_N + 0.56 × T_Perio.

2. The first step was ‘Adjusted Oral age'; primary oral age + (by age range) mean age.

3. The second step was ‘Social Oral age'; H_In weight + Brush weight + Visit weight + V_Why weight + Smoking weight + Floss weight

4. Final Oral age was sum of Adjusted Oral age and Social Oral age.

Conclusion: Being based clinic, socio-economic and behavioral variables, oral age estimation model for Korean adults was accomplished and it could apply to Korean adults.

This work was supported by the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF) grant funded by the Korea government (MOST) (No. R13-2003-013-01004-0).