Background: Dentinal translucency is one of the significant parameters used for dental age estimation that is least affected by pathologic processes and environmental changes. Butterfly effect is an optical phenomenon seen in some cross-sections of tooth roots due to root dentine translucency. Aim: To determine if the butterfly effect in the cross sections of teeth correlates with the age and gender of the individual. Material and Methodology: 90 extracted teeth specimen with known age & gender were collected from 3 age groups with equal gender distribution [30 each group- Group-I (15-24 years), Group-II (25-44 years) and Group III (45 years and older)]. Thecross sections of roots were cut at apical, middle and cervical one third and examined for presence of butterfly effect under light and polarized microscopy. Statistical Analysis: Pearson’s chi square test was applied to calculate the data between all the three groups. Results: Occurrence ofbutterfly effect increased from GroupI to Group III with a mean percentage of 5.6%, 28.9% & 54.5% respectively. The effect was mainly featured at apical third in Group –I, while it could be observed at all the levels in Group III. The chi square test revealed a significant correlation between butterfly effect and age with a statistically significant p–value of 0.049 (less than < 0.5). Conclusion: The presence of butterfly effect has strong correlation with age; however, it does not correlate with gender. 

Keywords: Butterfly Effect; Dental Age Estimation; Dentinal Translucency.