Original Article

Year : 2017 | Volume : 2 | Issue : 2 | Page : 61 - 66

Morphologic and Radiographic Changes in Teeth and Restorations Subjected to High Temperatures

Shubhasini Raghavan, Praveen Birur, Shubha Gurudath, G Keerthi

From the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, KLE Society’s Institute of Dental Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Address for correspondence:

Dr. Praveen Birur, E‐mail: kleoralmedicine1@gmail.com

Abstract

Context:

In fire accidents and cremation, fires may reach temperatures as high as 1150°C. In such circumstances, teeth and bones are the only remains which can help in personal identification, as teeth and restorations are unique to an individual.

Aims:

This study was conducted to assess morphological and radiographic appearances of teeth at various high temperatures.

Settings and Design:

This was an in vitro observational study; 160 extracted teeth were included in the study. The teeth were randomly classified into four groups of 40 teeth each. Teeth in Group 1 were retained without any restorations. A total of 60 teeth were endodontically sealed with zinc oxide eugenol sealer and restored with gutta-percha; coronal restorations were made with amalgam, light cure composite, or restorative glass ionomer cement. Radiographs of all teeth were obtained.

Subjects and Methods:

A burnout furnace was used for heating the teeth. Forty teeth each were heated to 200°C, 400°C, 600°C, and 800°C. The teeth and restorations were physically examined, and radiographs of all teeth were again obtained and correlated with the preincineration radiographs.

Results:

Teeth showed progressive discoloration from black to white, with the development of cracks and crowns shattered by 800°C. Restoration lost their marginal adaptation. On radiographs, initially, crowns developed fissures, followed by the roots.

Conclusion:

This study documented morphological and radiographic changes occuring in teeth when exposed to high temperatures.

Key Words: Dental materials, incineration, personal identification, radiographs

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

How to cite this article:

Raghavan S, Birur P, Gurudath S, Keerthi G. Morphologic and radiographic changes in teeth and restorations subjected to high temperatures. Int J Forensic Odontol 2017;2:62-6.