X‐ray Scattering Evaluation of Ultrastructural Changes in Human Dental Tissues with Thermal Treatment |
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| Authors: | Michael A Sandholzer MSc Tan Sui BSc Alexander M Korsunsky PhD Anthony Damien Walmsley PhD BDS Philip J Lumley PhD BDS Gabriel Landini PhD DrOdont |
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| Institution: | 1. School of Dentistry, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, , Birmingham, B4 6NN U.K;2. Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, , Oxford, OX1 3PJ U.K |
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| Abstract: | Micro‐ and ultrastructural analysis of burned skeletal remains is crucial for obtaining a reliable estimation of cremation temperature. Earlier studies mainly focused on heat‐induced changes in bone tissue, while this study extends this research to human dental tissues using a novel quantitative analytical approach. Twelve tooth sections were burned at 400–900°C (30‐min exposure, increments of 100°C). Subsequent combined small‐ and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) experiments were performed at the Diamond Light Source synchrotron facility, where 28 scattering patterns were collected within each tooth section. In comparison with the control sample, an increase in mean crystal thickness was found in burned dentine (2.8‐fold) and enamel (1.4‐fold), however at a smaller rate than reported earlier for bone tissue (5–10.7‐fold). The results provide a structural reference for traditional X‐ray scattering methods and emphasize the need to investigate bone and dental tissues separately to obtain a reliable estimation of cremation temperature. |
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| Keywords: | forensic science cremated remains burned bones and teeth heat‐induced changes X‐ray microtomography X‐ray diffraction small‐angle scattering forensic odontology forensic anthropology |
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