Abstract

Samples of postmortem pink teeth were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and electron probe X-ray microanalysis. Fracture surfaces of the dentin in pink teeth were noticeably rough and revealed many more smaller dentinal tubules than those of the control white teeth. Electron probe X-ray microanalysis showed that the pink teeth contained iron which seemed to be derived from blood hemoglobin. The present study confirms that under the same circumstance red coloration of teeth may occur more easily in the teenth in which the dentin is less compact and contains more dentinal tubules.

Issue Section:
Research Papers
Keywords:
odontology, dentition, microscopy, X-ray analysis, postmortem pink teeth, dentin

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