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Age estimation of living Indian individuals based on aspartic acid racemization from tooth biopsy specimen
Manu Rastogi1, Ajay Logani1, Naseem Shah1
1Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Centre for Dental Education and Research, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Background:
Age estimation in living individuals is imperative to amicably settle civil and criminal disputes. A biochemical method based on amino acid racemization was evaluated for age estimation of living Indian individuals.
Design:
Caries-free maxillary/mandibular premolar teeth (n = 90) were collected from participants with age proof documents and divided into predefined nine age groups.
Materials And Methods:
Dentine biopsy from the labial aspect of the tooth crown was taken with an indigenously developed microtrephine. The samples were processed and subjected to gas chromatography. Dextrorotatory:levorotatory ratios were calculated, and a regression equation was formulated.
Results:
Across all age groups, an error of 0 ± 4 years between protein racemization age and chronological age was observed.
Conclusion:
Aspartic acid racemization from dentine biopsy samples could be a viable and accurate technique for age estimation of living individuals who have attained a state of skeletal maturity.
