[Two cases of age estimation from teeth of burned body using amino acid racemization]

Abstract

Age estimation of 2 bodies were attempted, using the D/L ratio of aspartic acid in teeth. In case one, the oral cavity had been exposed to air with protruded anterior teeth. Seventeen teeth were extracted and put to examination. From anterior , especially those with darkly incinerated surfaces, estimated ages were far advanced than the actual one. However, from molars whose surfaces were similar in appearance to those of the living teeth, estimations of +/- 3 years error were achieved. In case two, the oral cavity had been closed, stuffed with the tongue and no teeth had been exposed. In all the 15 teeth examined, age estimations of +/- 3 years were achieved. This leads us to conclude that as for the teeth from a burned body, the method of age estimation through racemization is quite possible and valid, provided that the surfaces of the teeth maintained the tint of the living teeth.