Utilização do Método do Atlas de London para estimativa de idade em uma subpopulação brasileira

Abstract

Introduction: Age estimation is a critical tool in forensic science, particularly in cases involving adoption, identification of juvenile offenders, mass disasters, and other legal or humanitarian contexts. Dental methods play a significant role in providing more precise and reliable results, especially when applied to heterogeneous populations, such as the Brazilian population. Objective: To assess the applicability of the London Atlas morphological method for dental age estimation using panoramic radiographs from a subsample of individuals from northeastern Brazil. Methodology: This cross-sectional observational study employed a quantitative approach to estimate age using the London Atlas method. Digital panoramic radiographs from individuals aged 5 to 18 years were analyzed. The radiographs were sourced from two databases: a private institution in Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil, and the Department of Dentistry at the Federal University of Sergipe in Lagarto. Results: A total of 123 radiographs were analyzed, revealing a high correlation, sensitivity, and specificity (p > 0.05) between the estimated dental age and the chronological age. The London Atlas method demonstrated an average overestimation of 0.84 years compared to the chronological age. Subgroup analyses indicated an overestimation of 1.04 years for females and 0.59 years for males. Conclusion: The London Atlas method for dental age estimation exhibited strong overall performance, with a high correlation to chronological age and good applicability. While minor differences of approximately one year were observed in the evaluated sample, the method remains a reliable tool for age estimation in forensic contexts.