Naslov
Color changes of teeth in time and different storage conditions- a preliminary study

Autori
Petaros, Anja ; Zukanovic, Amila ; Dozic Alma ; Bajsman, Anita ; Secic ; Sadeta, Trninic, Slobodan ; Prohic Samir

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
International Journal of Legal Medicine IALM 2012 / - : Springer, 2012, S67-S67

Skup
22nd Congress of the International Academy of Legal Medicine

Mjesto i datum
Istanbul, Turska, 05.07.2012. - 08.07.2012

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
forensic taphonomy; forensic dentistry; color; teeth; postmortem interval

Sažetak
BACKGROUND and AIM Color analysis is an important part of forensic anthropology/taphonomy research. Color alteration in bones, and more rarely teeth, has been used to determine the effects of heating, burning, trauma, body deposition and aging. The present study is part of a larger project that focuses on teeth color alterations in time and various environmental conditions and its potential use in forensic taphonomy. The aim of this study is to test color modifications of teeth (not yet exposed to color-altering factors) in time and different storage conditions. MATERIAL and METHODS Thirty fully impacted human third molars were used for this study. The color analysis was performed on the vestibular surface of each tooth by an objective measuring instrument- a spectrophotometer that uses the CIELAB (L*a*b*) color scale. The tooth color was examined in three different storage conditions (dry condition, wet condition and after rehydration of dry teeth) and three time intervals (baseline, 7 weeks, 1 year). RESULTS and CONCLUSION The most significant color differences were noted in the dry group. Here, a significant increase of values in the green-red (a*) and blue-yellow (b*) specter was observed. After a year, a* values (mean a2*=12.08) differed significantly from baseline values (a1*=2). The increase of values occurred also in the blue-yellow specter (b1*=33.7 ; b2*=51.8). Such differences were neither observed in the wet group nor in the dry group after 7 weeks. However, after rehydration of the dry sample, the colors returned to their baseline value. Lightness (L*) showed both an initial increase (7-weeks group) and decrease of values (1-year group). Although there are color differences arising from taking the shade multiple times on the same area and between teeth belonging to the same group, the significant alterations observed in this sample can be attributed to exposure differences. If the same pattern of changes is going to be observed in teeth that were previously exposed to oral environment and naturally occurring environmental factors, color changes might be used in approximating postmortem interval in skeletons found in dry conditions (i.e. cadavers from enclosed settings). Considering that skeletonization can occur after few days in favorable conditions, teeth color changes could help to establish whether death occurred days, months or years ago. Larger and long lasting research conducted on cadavers must be undertaken in order to allow the implementation of this type of research in practice.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

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