Abstract

VAZQUEZ, Lucero; RODRIGUEZ, Patricia  and  MORENO, Freddy. In vitro macroscopic analysis of dental tissues and some dental materials used in endodontics, submitted to high temperatures for forensic applications. Rev. Odont. Mex [online]. 2012, vol.16, n.3, pp.171-181. ISSN 1870-199X.

Objective: The present paper aims at describing macro-structural physical changes taking place in materials and tissues employed in endodontic treatments after their exposition to high temperatures. Material and methods: An in vitro experimental study was conducted to observe macroscopic physical changes in dental tissues (enamel, dentine and cement) as well as materials conventionally used in endodontic practice: gutta-percha, Maillefer Dentsply^®, Eufar^® cement with zinc oxide eugenol, Top Seal^® Dentsply^® endodontic cement with epoxy resin, Fuji^® GC America^® glass ionomer, GS80^® SDI^® silver amalgam, and Point 4^® Kerr^® resin, in 124 human teeth exposed to five temperature ranks: 200°C, 400°C, 600°C, 800°C and 1,000°C. Results: Tissues and dental materials studied in the present research offered great resistance to high temperatures, without exhibiting considerable macrostructure variation, in such a way that physical changes (dimensional stability, fissures, cracks, fractures, texture, color, carbonization and incineration) can be identified and associated to each specific temperature rank. Conclusions: Dental tissues and materials offer great resistance to the effect of high temperatures. Moreover, they present specific changes ( color, texture, fissures, cracks fractures, fragmentation) which might contribute to the process of identifying a corpse, or burned, incinerated or carbonized human remains.

Keywords : Forensic dentistry; human identification; dental tissues; dental materials; endodontic use; high temperatures.

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