PubMed Health⌕ Search
Home/Archive/PubMed

PubMed · 3150445

Postmortem pink teeth: in vitro production.

C W van Wyk
View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

The aim of this study was to produce pink teeth experimentally with cadaver blood and to correlate the time sequence of the coloration with the pattern of hemolysis of the blood. The blood from 7 cadavers (postmortem period 8-58 h) was used to stain 7 groups of 14 teeth each. All the teeth were divided longitudinally and one half received blood which contained a piece of skin (to imitate pulpal autolysis) and the other half cadaver blood only. Circumpulpal discoloration commenced on the sixth day postmortem and increased to 18 days. At 6 days, hemolysis was evident histologically and the separation between plasma and blood cells had disappeared in centrifuged blood. No difference was noticed between the blood with and without skin. It is concluded that pink staining of teeth can only occur after hemolysis and that discoloration becomes obvious macroscopically at about 6 days.

Explore related subjects

Dental Pulp NecrosisErythrocytesForensic MedicineHemoglobinsHemolysisHumansSpectrophotometryTime FactorsTooth DiscolorationJournal Article

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

C W van Wyk. 1988. Postmortem pink teeth: in vitro production.. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0714.1988.tb01336.x

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

PubMed2004

Aetiology, classification and pathogenesis of pulp and periapical disease.

At present, the majority of the treatments that are performed in the clinic are due to disease entities involving the dental pulp and periapex. Dental pulp is a richly vascularized and innervated tissue, enclosed by surrounding tissues that are incapable of expanding, such as dentin. It has terminal blood flow and small-gauge circulatory access the periapex. All of these characteristics severely constrain the defensive capacity of the pulp tissue when faced with the different aggressions it may be subjected to. Pulp tissue can also be affected by a retrograde infection, arising from the secondary canaliculi, from the periodontal ligament or from the apex during the course of periodontitis. Due to the fact that periapical disease is almost inevitably preceded by pulp disease, we shall begin by describing the causes of pulp disease and will then proceed to a discussion of the causes of periapical disease. The course of illness and classification of these pathological entities will depend on the aetiology involved. We will analyse pulp necrosis and pulp degeneration that are capable of triggering reversible apical periodontitis or irreversible apical periodontitis.

Dental Pulp Necrosis↗
PubMed2003

To do a "root canal".

Endodontic treatment is often referred to as "a root canal". This article discusses the need to be more refined and descriptive in the selection of treatment alternatives. The pathological involvement of teeth needing endodontic treatment varies significantly from superficial pulp inflammation to pulp necrosis and infection, often complicated with a periradicular osteolytic process. This diversity should lead to a variety of treatment modalities based on the severity of the disease. Failure to do so and use a one-size-fits-all approach--"a root canal"--is an oversimplification and a disservice to the patient and the profession.

Dental Pulp Necrosis↗