Age estimation of an individual by using Olze′s method in South Indian population

Abstract

Background: The present study was conducted to assess age of adults by using Olze′s method and also to estimate the efficacy of Olze′s method in south Indian population. Materials and Methods: The present study comprised of 25 subjects ranging from 12 to 26 years from Mangalore. Dental age was assessed by using the Olze′s method based on upper and lower third molar. Panoramic radiographs were taken for the same. The obtained data were analyzed by using paired t-test, intraclass correlation coefficient, and regression analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 13 software for statistical analysis. Results: Average chronological age was 16.11. Average age estimated by Olze′s method was 16.05. The intraclass correlation coefficient between the two methods showed excellent agreement between the two. Statistical analysis indicated that there is no significant difference between chronological age and age obtained by Olze′s method. Conclusion: Olze′s method has been experimented by many authors. An attempt was made to apply original method in our population and check its reliability. The present study indicated that, Olze′s method was reliable for age estimation in our sample. This method of age estimation was accurate in both males and females.

Keywords

• Emergence of third molar
• Olze′s method
• panoramic radiograph