Accuracy of assessing 18, 21, and 25 years of age using Olze et al. stage-based system in an Indian sample of young adults.

BACKGROUND

Recently, Olze et al. came up with a staging system based on the radiological changes in the root pulp of the third molar.

AIMS & OBJECTIVES: The current study seeks to ascertain the utility of visibility of the root pulp of the third molar as a system of forensic age estimation in the Indian population, as suggested by Olze. et al. and to assess the accuracy of cut-off stages for 18, 21, and 25 years of age.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Radio-visiogram of 220 Patients (116 males and 104 females) of age 15 to 30 years were examined and staged as per Olze. et al. stage-based system. The statistical methods included descriptive analysis, chi-square test, and Rank-order correlation [rho] test of Spearman. EasyROC web tool was used for ROC analyses and calculating ROC curves (AUCs), likelihood ratio, predictive values, and screening tests for accuracy. Youden's index was used to decide the cut-off stage for the different age groups.

RESULTS

Specificity close to 100% was observed among both the Sex for cut-off levels 1, 2, and 3 among 18, 21, and 25 years of age correspondingly with minimal Type II error. Inter andIntraobservations with a kappa value of 0.66 and 0.65, respectively, indicate good agreement.

CONCLUSION

Olze's third molar root pulp 1, 2, and 3 stages can be used as an optimal cut-off for the 18, 21, and 25-year-old thresholds correspondingly with high specificity for both the sexes for age estimation among the Indian population.