Can red coloration of teeth (pink teeth) as post-mortem finding be a consideration in medicolegal investigation? (Review)

Abstract

Autopsies are usually conducted to facilitate investigation in cases of suspicious or violent deaths. Forensic odontology as a branch of knowledge also contributes in handling, examining and evaluating dental evidence in autopsies to provide information for the authority. One of the post-mortem findings related to forensic odontology is the existence of red coloration of the teeth, which is well known as the pink teeth phenomenon. In the early years of its discovery, studies believed that pink teeth have the ability to indicate the cause of death of the remains. However, within years of development in knowledge and research, a shift in that belief occurred. To discuss the pink teeth phenomenon as post mortem findings and whether it can be used as a consideration in medicolegal investigation or not. Data sources obtained from different search engines such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Springer and NCBI. There are different types of possible factors that caused pink teeth phenomenon. Physiological factors such as the shape of dental tubules and number of roots are discussed a lot and are suspected to serve role in the formation of pink teeth. Cause of death, place of discovery, body position, and time delay are several external factors that are suspected to be the cause of the pink teeth phenomenon. In the current time, there is still lack of evidence to conclude that pink teeth changes cannot be associated with a post-mortem. This is based on the existence of some literature explaining the triggering factors for pink teeth, one of which is the rupture of blood vessels from the dental pulp canal. Thus, pink teeth cannot yet be a consideration in medicolegal investigation.