Original Article

Year : 2016 | Volume : 1 | Issue : 1 | Page : 21 - 24

Age Determination among Different Age Groups using Enamel‐etching patterns: Scanning Electron Microscopy Analysis

James D Raj, Sindhu Ramesh

From the Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Saveetha Dental College, Chennai,

Tamil Nadu, India

Address for correspondence:

Dr. James D Raj, E‐mail: jamesdraj@gmail.com

Abstract

Background:

The determination of age and sex is among the important aspects of forensic anthropology and vital in medicolegal investigations. Enamel is the hardest known substance in the human body. As tooth matures, the surface layer of the enamel presents hypermineralization features, which could influence the features of the etching pattern.

Aim:

The purpose of the present study is to assess if the enamel surface can be used as a parameter to determine the age.

Materials and Methods:

Sixty freshly extracted teeth from individuals with known age group were collected and etching procedure was done, and then subjected to scanning electron microscope analysis.

Statistical Analysis:

Chi‐square test was done using SPSS software (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), USA).

Results and Conclusion:

The predominant etching pattern seen in 20–30 year age group after acid etching for 15 s is Type I pattern (66%), while in 50–60 year age group, it is Type II pattern (61.6%). A significant difference was observed in the respective age groups among the type of etching pattern. This technique can be a very useful adjunct for age determination in the field of forensic odontology.

Key Words: Acid etching, enamel etching, forensic odontology

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

How to cite this article:

Raj JD, Ramesh S. Age determination among different age groups using enamel-etching patterns: Scanning electron microscopy analysis. Int J Forensic Odontol 2016;1:21-4.