Age estimation by teeth and legal majority through the Olze method in Brazilian population

Abstract

• Age estimation by Olze's method was performed in a Brazilian population. • Legal majority was also evaluated using the method. • The method can be useful for estimating the age of individuals from 20 years old. • The method is not recommended to be used alone to estimate the age of the legal majority. Objectives: the aim of this study was to investigate whether the method proposed by Olze et al. (2012) is applicable for age estimation in Brazilian population and if it can estimate the legal age of majority. Materials and Methods: five hundred panoramic radiographs of Brazilian individuals between the ages of 15 and 24 of both sexes were used, and the stages for the formation of secondary dentin, periodontal recession, attrition and cementum apposition of the lower premolars were analyzed. The correlation between chronological and estimated age was verified through a multiple regression analysis. Results: the results showed that there was an overestimation of the chronological age for all teeth and age groups in both sexes, and the highest average difference between the chronological and the estimated age was 7.27 years for men and 5.41 years for women. Conclusion: the method proved to be useful for estimating the age of individuals 20 years old and older, and should be applied cautiously and as an auxiliary tool. However, it is not recommended to be used alone to estimate legal age of majority.