Age estimation from racemization rate using heated teeth

The racemization ratio (D/L ratio) of aspartic acid was determined in soluble peptide and total amino acid extracted from the dentine of experimentally-heated and unheated teeth. The ratio was higher in heated than in unheated teeth for total amino acid, but approximately the same for soluble peptide. Although the estimated age for total amino acid was much greater than the true age for heated teeth, it was approximately the same for total amino acid in unheated teeth and for soluble peptide in heated teeth and unheated teeth. These results suggest that age calculated from the D/L ratio of dentinal soluble peptide from burned bodies is sufficiently accurate for this parameter to be used to estimate age in teeth from burned bodies.