Heat Induced Alterations of the Endodontically Treated Teeth for the Forensic Identifications: An in Vitro Study

Abstract

Objective: The study aimed to highlight the relationship between forensic science and endodontics by illustrating CBCT records can be used as legal evidence for forensic analysis and evaluate the effect of elevated temperature on the endodontically treated teeth. Methods: The present study was conducted on 40 extracted permanent mandibular premolars, which were divided into two groups based on predetermined incineration temperature: Group I - 400°C & Group II - 800°C subjected for 15 minutes holding time in a digital burnout furnace. The root canal treatment was performed for both the groups and a Pre-incineration CBCT scan was taken for both the groups as an ante-mortem data. Following heating analysis, root canal treated teeth were examined using a stereomicroscope at 20x resolution to evaluate the morphological changes. The post-incineration CBCT scan was taken as the post-mortem record for each group. Both ante-mortem records and post-mortem records were compared for the forensic analysis. Results: The endodontically treated teeth display a series of macroscopic and stereo-microscopic changes for each temperature scale. The CBCT records identify the thermal stress-induced 3D alterations in the gutta-percha filled teeth. Conclusion: Knowledge of changes in human dentition and traces of the endodontically treated teeth can help forensic experts for the identification of the fire victims.

Role of endodontic treatment related signs for the forensic odontology practice considering real-life quality of comparable radiographs

“…1000 °C exposure caused greyish white color of the roots, while they were keeping relatively integrated conditions with deep fractured lines [13]. Results of the in-vitro study has revealed that even under the 800 °C exposure root portion of tooth in contrast to crown portion remained enough intact for being used for the analysis even though vertical crack present along root were present, while also guttapercha could be identified within root canal as a result of previous endodontic treatment, which was also proved by CBCT scan analysis [11]. Other study also approve root crack formation when tooth was exposed to 800 °C temperature [14].…”

“…Previous review on the topic dedicated to the endodontic images as a potential forensic identification evidences has been already provided [2], but not all aspects of endodontic-related signs and their role within forensic odontology practice were covered in available publication. Tooth root retain its primary configuration and relative integrity even under the high temperature exposure, which make it possible to use such for the identification of burnt victims [1,10,11]. Cross-sectional study demonstrated that obturated single root radiographic images characterized with high level of specificity and evidence significance for decision making within forensic dentistry practice and dental identification process [9].…”

Uso de las Modalidades Diagnósticas Pertenecientes a la Imagenología Dentofacial en la Odontología Forense. Revisión de Literatura.

“…De hecho, algunos investigadores buscaron relacionar la odontología forense con la endodoncia, utilizando las imágenes producidas por la TCHC para evaluar el efecto de la temperatura en dientes tratados endodónticamente, como la hacen Patel et al . 37 , quienes tomaron 40 premolares mandibulares tratados endodónticamente y los sometieron a temperaturas de 400 y 800 °C por 15 minutos (grupos de 20 dientes a cada temperatura), y realizaron tomografías a cada diente posteriormente. Se realizaron análisis odontológicos forenses macro y microscópicos a cada diente pre y post mortem , y se concluyó que todas las unidades dentarias sufren cambios macroscópicos y microscópicos a altas temperaturas, y si son analizados mediante la TCHC el estrés térmico produce cambios notables en la obturación tridimensional de los dientes tratados, por lo que resulta de utilidad en las ciencias forenses para la identificación de un cadáver calcinado.…”

The Role of an Endodontist in Victim Identification: A Narrative Review on Forensic Endodontics

“…Urooge and Patil [24] evaluated the CBCT of the maxillary sinus and reported that the efficiency of maxillary sinuses in sex identification was 74% in females and 68% in males. Moreover, a study conducted by Patel et al [25] focused on assessing the potential of CBCT records as legal evidence for forensic analysis. The researchers specifically examined CBCT images of teeth before and after incineration to determine if the features necessary for identification were preserved.…”