TY - JOUR
T1 - Forensic thanatology and the pink tooth phenomenon
T2 - From the lack of relation with the cause of death to a potential evidence of cadaveric decomposition in dental autopsies — Case series
AU - Franco, Ademir
AU - Mendes, Solon Diego Santos Carvalho
AU - Picoli, Fernando Fortes
AU - Rodrigues, Livia Graziele
AU - Silva, Rhonan Ferreira
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Elsevier B.V.
Copyright:
Copyright 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2018/10
Y1 - 2018/10
N2 - Forensic thanatology comprises the investigation of every phenomenon related to death performed through cadaveric exams. The pink tooth phenomenon (PTP) emerges as a thanatological finding registered during medical or dental autopsy. The PTP consists of a reddish or pink coloration caused in the teeth by the penetration of pulpal hemoglobin in the dentinal tubules. Initially, the PTP was associated with specific violent deaths, such as drowning, hanging and poisoning. However, scientific reports have pointed towards the occurrence of PTP as an expression of cadaveric decomposition regardless of the cause of death. The present study aims to report eight dental autopsies of victims of violent death that presented the PTP. The autopsies were conducted by forensic pathologists and dentists between 2013 and 2018. Seven victims were males and one was female. The age ranged above 6 years old. Cranio-encephalic trauma, firearm shooting and asphyxia figured as the causes of death. All the victims were in advanced decomposition. The PTP was detected in deciduous and permanent, anterior and posterior and maxillary and mandibular teeth. Forensic experts, especially dentists, must be aware of the PTP for more detailed registration of postmortem findings and more accurate cadaveric exams.
AB - Forensic thanatology comprises the investigation of every phenomenon related to death performed through cadaveric exams. The pink tooth phenomenon (PTP) emerges as a thanatological finding registered during medical or dental autopsy. The PTP consists of a reddish or pink coloration caused in the teeth by the penetration of pulpal hemoglobin in the dentinal tubules. Initially, the PTP was associated with specific violent deaths, such as drowning, hanging and poisoning. However, scientific reports have pointed towards the occurrence of PTP as an expression of cadaveric decomposition regardless of the cause of death. The present study aims to report eight dental autopsies of victims of violent death that presented the PTP. The autopsies were conducted by forensic pathologists and dentists between 2013 and 2018. Seven victims were males and one was female. The age ranged above 6 years old. Cranio-encephalic trauma, firearm shooting and asphyxia figured as the causes of death. All the victims were in advanced decomposition. The PTP was detected in deciduous and permanent, anterior and posterior and maxillary and mandibular teeth. Forensic experts, especially dentists, must be aware of the PTP for more detailed registration of postmortem findings and more accurate cadaveric exams.
KW - Autopsy
KW - Cause of death
KW - Decomposition
KW - Pink tooth phenomenon
KW - Thanatology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85053051403&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.08.011
DO - 10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.08.011
M3 - Article
C2 - 30193746
AN - SCOPUS:85053051403
SN - 0379-0738
VL - 291
SP - e8-e12
JO - Forensic Science International
JF - Forensic Science International
ER -