Cemental annulation enhancement: a technique for age determination in man

Area of Science:

• Paleontology
• Forensic Anthropology
• Dental Anatomy

Background:

• Cemental annulations, or annual growth rings in tooth cementum, are reliable age markers in many animal species.
• Their presence in human teeth is acknowledged, but accurate counting is often hindered by preparation and visualization difficulties.
• Accurate age estimation from human remains is crucial in various scientific disciplines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a standardized method for preparing human teeth to enhance the countability of cemental annulations.
• To assess the effectiveness of specific staining and microscopy techniques for visualizing these annulations.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive protocol involving tooth collection, identification, measurement, sectioning (100-microns thick), cleaning, acid etching, staining (cresyl fast violet), and mounting was employed.
• Photographic documentation using standard light microscopy and Nomarsky interference microscopy.
• Evaluation of annulation countability from photographic enlargements.

Main Results:

• The reported method provides a reproducible approach to preparing human teeth for cemental annulation analysis.
• Photographic enlargements, particularly when combined with Nomarsky interference microscopy, facilitate improved visualization and counting of annulations.
• Cresyl fast violet demonstrated effectiveness as a stain for highlighting cemental annulations.

Conclusions:

• The described method significantly improves the ability to count cemental annulations in human teeth.
• This standardized technique holds potential for more accurate age estimation in anthropological and forensic contexts.
• Further validation across diverse human populations is recommended.