Rosin's Edge in Forensic Odontology: A Staining Insight

Abstract

Introduction: Forensic odontology is a specialized field at the crossroads of dentistry and law, focusing on the analysis of dental evidence in legal investigations. Due to their resistance to decay and environmental degradation, teeth serve as a vital resource in age estimation and gender determination. Various techniques, including microscopic examination of the incremental lines in enamel and cementum, neonatal lines, and dentin translucency, are commonly employed for forensic analysis. To enhance the accuracy and ease of examination, there is an increasing demand for high-quality, non-demineralized tooth sections that are durable, easy to handle, and maintain uniform thickness.
Aims and objectives: 1. Evaluate the effectiveness of the Rosin stain in identifying incremental lines in hard dental tissues. 2. Compare Rosin stain with Haematoxylin and Eosin stain as well as with unstained sections.
Materials and methods: Sixty sound teeth were included in the study. Thin longitudinal sections of 2 mm were prepared using a diamond disc, and ground sections of 25 µm were prepared on Arkansas stone. The sections were divided into three groups: (A) sections stained with Rosin, (B) sections stained with H&E, and (C) unstained sections. The longitudinal ground sections were examined under both the Light Microscope and the Phase Contrast Microscope. The Microstructures of the teeth, such as incremental lines of enamel, dentin, and cementum, were assessed.
Result and conclusion: Rosin-stained ground sections observed under phase contrast microscopy provided better visualisation of dental microstructures than unstained or H&E-stained ground sections, suggesting Rosin enhances the identification of incremental lines in forensic dental analysis.