Tooth enamel as a forensic clock: A histological study evaluating enamel structures for forensic age assessment using predictive modeling

Q1 Medicine

Journal of oral biology and craniofacial research Pub Date : 2025-07-28 DOI:10.1016/j.jobcr.2025.07.012

Divya Shetty , Shanvi Kumari , Nikita Gulati , Devi Charan Shetty

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Forensic odontology has gained prominence due to the reliability of dental evidence in investigations. Tooth enamel, a highly mineralized and durable tissue, resists postmortem degradation. If its histological features can accurately indicate age, species, or gender, it could serve as a valuable forensic tool. This study aimed to evaluate enamel structures histologically for age assessment.

Material and method

A total of 120 premolar samples (ages 12–55) from the first quadrant were analysed. Linear enamel hypoplasia was examined using a stereomicroscope, followed by ground sections to count lamellae. Hypo-mineralization zones were assessed under a polarizing microscope using Magnus Pro morphometric software.

Results

The best variable for determining age was found by examining three distinct predictive accuracy models; the C5.0 model had the highest accuracy (85.30 %), followed by the CRT model (60.80 %) and the CHAID model (58.30 %). The lamellae number was the most significant predictor of age, with age group 2 (0.853) followed by group 1 (0.790) and group 3 (0.659).

Conclusion

Each individual has a unique enamel profile, which can aid in identifying victims of mass disasters or severely damaged remains. Dentists are encouraged to routinely document enamel defects to support future forensic comparisons with dental records.

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牙釉质作为法医时钟：一项使用预测模型评估牙釉质结构用于法医年龄评估的组织学研究

背景：由于牙科证据在调查中的可靠性，法医牙科学获得了突出地位。牙釉质是一种高度矿化和耐用的组织，可以抵抗死后的降解。如果它的组织学特征可以准确地表明年龄、物种或性别，它就可以作为一种有价值的法医工具。本研究旨在对牙釉质结构进行组织学评估，用于年龄评估。材料与方法对120个第一象限（12 ~ 55岁）前磨牙样品进行了分析。用体视显微镜检查线性牙釉质发育不全，然后用地面切片计数片。利用Magnus Pro形态测量软件在偏光显微镜下评估低矿化带。结果通过检验三种不同的预测精度模型，找到了确定年龄的最佳变量；C5.0模型准确率最高（85.30%），CRT模型次之（60.80%），CHAID模型次之（58.30%）。片层数是年龄的最显著预测因子，2组（0.853）次之，1组（0.790）和3组（0.659）。结论每个人都有独特的牙釉质特征，这有助于识别大规模灾害的受害者或严重受损的遗骸。鼓励牙医定期记录牙釉质缺陷，以支持未来与牙科记录的法医比较。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of oral biology and craniofacial research Medicine-Otorhinolaryngology

CiteScore

4.90

自引率

0.00%

发文量

133

审稿时长

167 days

期刊介绍： Journal of Oral Biology and Craniofacial Research (JOBCR)is the official journal of the Craniofacial Research Foundation (CRF). The journal aims to provide a common platform for both clinical and translational research and to promote interdisciplinary sciences in craniofacial region. JOBCR publishes content that includes diseases, injuries and defects in the head, neck, face, jaws and the hard and soft tissues of the mouth and jaws and face region; diagnosis and medical management of diseases specific to the orofacial tissues and of oral manifestations of systemic diseases; studies on identifying populations at risk of oral disease or in need of specific care, and comparing regional, environmental, social, and access similarities and differences in dental care between populations; diseases of the mouth and related structures like salivary glands, temporomandibular joints, facial muscles and perioral skin; biomedical engineering, tissue engineering and stem cells. The journal publishes reviews, commentaries, peer-reviewed original research articles, short communication, and case reports.