TY - JOUR
T1 - Age estimation in humans through the analysis of aspartic acid racemization from teeth
T2 - A scoping review of methods, outcomes, and open research questions
AU - Matteussi, Giovanna Teixeira
AU - Jacometti, Victor
AU - Franco, Ademir
AU - da Silva, Ricardo Henrique Alves
N1 - © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
PY - 2022/2
Y1 - 2022/2
N2 - Teeth are considered the most resistant structures in the human body. In forensic odontology, teeth are useful for human identification, especially when dental age estimation is necessary. Despite numerous studies, there is no consensus regarding the best methods for dental age estimation. The analysis of aspartic acid racemization, however, has shown promising results. This scoping review aimed to present a descriptive synthesis of the current literature regarding dental age estimation through aspartic acid racemization. Four electronic databases were screened: PubMed, Scielo, Web of Science, and Scopus. Cross-sectional studies published before April 2021 were selected. From 206 articles found, 26 met the eligibility criteria. Several experimental protocols and laboratory settings were detected, but the different protocols did not seem to significantly reduce error rates in dental age estimation. The analysis of aspartic acid racemization in human dental tissues produced accurate and potentially reliable results for age estimation. Aspartic acid racemization stands out especially in the adulthood - age category in which other methods struggle to deliver proper performances. Studies with larger samples, independent testing, and standardized laboratory procedures are necessary. Equator-like reporting guidelines are encouraged to enable future systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
AB - Teeth are considered the most resistant structures in the human body. In forensic odontology, teeth are useful for human identification, especially when dental age estimation is necessary. Despite numerous studies, there is no consensus regarding the best methods for dental age estimation. The analysis of aspartic acid racemization, however, has shown promising results. This scoping review aimed to present a descriptive synthesis of the current literature regarding dental age estimation through aspartic acid racemization. Four electronic databases were screened: PubMed, Scielo, Web of Science, and Scopus. Cross-sectional studies published before April 2021 were selected. From 206 articles found, 26 met the eligibility criteria. Several experimental protocols and laboratory settings were detected, but the different protocols did not seem to significantly reduce error rates in dental age estimation. The analysis of aspartic acid racemization in human dental tissues produced accurate and potentially reliable results for age estimation. Aspartic acid racemization stands out especially in the adulthood - age category in which other methods struggle to deliver proper performances. Studies with larger samples, independent testing, and standardized laboratory procedures are necessary. Equator-like reporting guidelines are encouraged to enable future systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
KW - Age Determination by Teeth
KW - Aspartic acid racemization
KW - Forensic Dentistry
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85123651081&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.111154
DO - 10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.111154
M3 - Article
C2 - 34992012
SN - 0379-0738
VL - 331
JO - Forensic Science International
JF - Forensic Science International
M1 - 111154
ER -