Evaluating Postmortem Interval by Assessing Early Putrefactive Changes in Pulp of Buried Teeth in Central India: A Short Study

Abstract

Abstract Context: Dental pulp of teeth has an increased resistance to decomposition processes because it is well protected by dentin and enamel from environmental factors – either physical (wind, water, sun, and soil type) or biological (maggots, insects, and animals) and this makes them highly valuable in forensic investigations. Several studies have been done on porcine (pig) teeth, human teeth, for 36 h/72 h/1 week or few months, but these degenerative changes have not been summarized and charted to predict postmortem interval (PMI) using degenerative changes in dental pulp. Aim: This study aims to predict PMI by evaluating various putrefaction changes in the dental pulp of teeth buried under the soil in Central India. Materials and Methods: Twenty five teeth were collected and divided into 4 study group and 1 control group. Immediately after extraction, tooth apex was sealed with wax and put into meat pocket to simulate normal anatomic condition. Then, each setup was buried under soil for 3, 6, 9, and 12 days, respectively. Later, pulp was retrieved from the decomposing teeth to evaluate the putrefaction changes. Results: Sequential putrefactive changes in an increasing grade were noted in setup. Conclusion: Using these data of putrefactive changes in pulp, we can estimate the PMI up to 12 days.