Pink Teeth: An Important Aspect for Forensic Science

Abstract

The pink teeth phenomenon plays a significant role in ruling out the cause of death in forensic science. The phenomenon of pink teeth has been known since 1829, when it was first described by Thomas Bell. This chapter reviews the occurrence of “pink teeth” in forensic specimens, archaeological pink teeth, and other causes of pink teeth. Forensic odontologists, dentists, forensic experts, as well as archaeologists should have good knowledge about the causes of pink teeth and how to differentiate them from each other. Pink teeth may crop up all the way throughout the course of life and after death in postmortem procedures. Their chemical analogy is the seepage of hemoglobin or its derivatives into the dentinal tubules; the prerequisites are hyperemia/congestion and erythrocytic extravasations of the pulpal capillaries, which furthermore results in autolysis and a humid milieu. Therefore, they were most often associated with water immersion. The intensity of characteristics varies among different cases and also among different teeth in an individual case. The phenomenon was often seen in the victims of drowning and among those in similar positions where the head usually lies in a head-down posture. Archaeological pink teeth have different causes and may occur as a result of fungal infection. Pink teeth additionally may result from some systemic diseases, oral diseases, drug poisons, complications of dental treatments, dental materials, as well as dental implants. Thus, antemortem and postmortem pink teeth should be differentiated by their root causes.