Age estimation using Olze's method in an adult Brazilian population

Age estimation is important to set an anthropological profile in human remains, as well as in legal issues where the suspect or victim doesn't have documents that prove the real age. The age estimation, in adults, is a challenge, and it can be analyzed through some dental stages. This study aimed to test Olze's method in a Brazilian sample composed by adults, aged between 20 and 70 years old, both sex.

For experiments, 306 orthopantomography from Brazilian individuals between 20 and 70 years were selected. The dental involution through four different dental parameters were classified and the correlation between chronological age and the estimated age was examined by means of a multiple regression analysis.

The results showed that up to 41 years old, the correlation between real age and the interval obtained was considered strongly positive (R = 0.8-1), and the percentage of matching was 78.78% for men and 71.21% for women. From 42 years old up, the correlation between real age and the estimation was considered null (R = 0) for both sex, and the percentage of matching was 17.24% for men and 6.89% for women.

It could be concluded that the method is effective for age estimation up to 41 years old, but has limitations to be used over this age in Brazilian people.