The development of a tool to predict temperature-exposure of incinerated teeth using colourimetric and hydroxyapatite crystal size data
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-1-2021
Abstract
This study presents a novel tool to predict temperature-exposure of incinerated pig teeth as a proxy for understanding impacts of fire on human teeth. Previous studies on the estimation of temperature-exposure of skeletal elements have been limited to that of heat-exposed bone. This predictive tool was developed using a multinomial regression model of colourimetric and hydroxyapatite crystal size variables using data obtained from unheated pig teeth and teeth incinerated at 300 degrees C, 600 degrees C, 800 degrees C and 1000 degrees C. An additional variable based on the observed appearance of the tooth was included in the tool. This enables the tooth to be classified as definitely burnt (600 degrees C-1000 degrees C) or uncertain (27 degrees C/300 degrees C). As a result, the model predicting the temperature-exposure of the incinerated teeth had an accuracy of 95%. This tool is a holistic, robust and reliable approach to estimate temperature of heat-exposed pig teeth, with high accuracy, and may act as a valuable proxy to estimate heat exposure for human teeth in forensic casework.
Keywords
Teeth, Temperature estimation, Heat-induced change, Colourimetry, X-ray diffraction, Multinomial regression model
Divisions
OralMaxillofacialSurgery
Funders
School of Biological Sciences, the University of Adelaide
Publication Title
International Journal of Legal Medicine
Volume
135
Issue
5
Publisher
Springer
Publisher Location
ONE NEW YORK PLAZA, SUITE 4600, NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES