# Do teeth have rings like trees? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 23, 2003, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-teeth-have-rings-like-trees/163621 "2003-03-23T21:45:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![thelogicalnextbigthingis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3da27b/32.png) [@thelogicalnextbigthingis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelogicalnextbigthingis)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-teeth-have-rings-like-trees/163621/1 "2003-03-23T21:45:57Z")
Apparently, forensic police can determine a skelton’s age at death by slicing open a tooth. How does that work exactly? Are there rings? Are they added from the center out or layered with newest on top? ---
**Author:** ![BuckleberryFerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BuckleberryFerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckleberryFerry)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-teeth-have-rings-like-trees/163621/2 "2003-03-23T22:04:12Z")
If this were true, I imagine a tooth would grow to massive proportions at a relatively young age. I believe what these people are searching for could be the quality of the tooth. They may be evaluating the quality of the enamel, the thickness of the enamel, and the health of the overall tooth. They also could have great difficulty pinpointing the exact age; there are far too many factors that could convolute the process. WAG: 50-60% ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-teeth-have-rings-like-trees/163621/3 "2003-03-23T22:08:37Z")
Yes, there are growth rings in human teeth. Here’s an interesting [article](http://www.mpg.de/english/aktuell/forschung/02_3/02_03MPR_26_33.pdf) on the subject, with pretty pictures. ---
**Author:** ![BuckleberryFerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BuckleberryFerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckleberryFerry)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-teeth-have-rings-like-trees/163621/4 "2003-03-23T22:15:13Z")
ARGH!!! I wish people would warn me of .pdf stuff. Anyway, how surprised am I? You learn something new every day. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-teeth-have-rings-like-trees/163621/5 "2003-03-23T22:17:51Z")
Ah, sorry. It _does_ say .pdf in the status bar when you hover the cursor over the link. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BuckleberryFerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BuckleberryFerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckleberryFerry)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-teeth-have-rings-like-trees/163621/6 "2003-03-23T22:38:36Z")
No worries, QED. That was more frustration at my own stupidity than your lack of warning. I usually hover, but didn’t this time. Thanks for the info! ---
**Author:** ![cdhostage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@cdhostage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cdhostage)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-teeth-have-rings-like-trees/163621/7 "2003-03-23T22:44:30Z")
Eeeenertesting.