Miranda, G. E., Melani, R. F. H., Júnior, L. F., & Júnior, E. D. (2017). Use of an alternate light source to detect tooth and bone. Brazilian Dental Journal, 28(1), 78–81.

This 2017 study by Miranda et al. evaluated the optimal parameters for utilizing an alternate light source (ALS) to screen and locate skeletal and dental remains against a distracting background. Human molars and dried bone fragments were mixed with light-colored Styrofoam balls as a negative control and tested under various wavelengths (455–625 nm) and emission filters (yellow, orange, and red) in a completely darkened room. The results conclusively showed that an illumination wavelength of 455 nm combined with an orange filter provides the most effective contrast and highest difference in brightness between skeletal tissues and inert background material. Furthermore, digital image pixel analysis established a clear hierarchy of fluorescence intensity among the biological components, revealing that the dental root exhibits the greatest fluorescence, followed by enamel, and then bone. The authors noted that these variances are closely tied to the density of the organic matrix within each tissue type, making this non-destructive technique a valuable asset for forensic experts recovering highly fragmented or commingled biological elements.

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