Dental fluorescence: potential forensic use

Area of Science:

• Forensic Anthropology
• Dental Forensics
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Age estimation is crucial in identifying skeletal remains.
• Changes in dental tissues like enamel, dentin, and pulp occur throughout life.
• Tooth fluorescence is influenced by these age-related tissue alterations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between dental fluorescence and age in a Brazilian population.
• To evaluate the potential of tooth fluorescence as a biotypologic diagnostic marker for age estimation.

Main Methods:

• A sample of 66 Brazilians aged 7-63 years was analyzed.
• Central incisors were examined, excluding restored or rehabilitated teeth.
• Computer analysis of digital images quantified tooth fluorescence using specific software.

Main Results:

• Dental fluorescence showed a decreasing trend in age groups from 21-30 to 51-63 years.
• Statistically significant differences in fluorescence were observed between specific age groups (e.g., 41-50 vs. 21-30, and 51-63 vs. all others).
• Fluorescence remained stable from age 7 to 20, peaking around 26.5 years before declining.

Conclusions:

• Dental fluorescence is significantly correlated with chronological age.
• Tooth fluorescence exhibits a stable pattern in younger individuals and decreases with advancing age.
• This finding supports the use of dental fluorescence in forensic age estimation.