Forensic Identification of Endodontically Treated Teeth after Heat-Induced Alterations: An In Vitro Study.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to highlight the relationship between forensic science and endodontics by illustrating CBCT records can be used as legal evidence for forensic analysis and evaluate the effect of elevated temperature on the endodontically treated teeth. METHODS: The present study was conducted on 40 extracted permanent mandibular premolars, which were divided into two groups based on predetermined incineration temperature: Group I - 400°C & Group II - 800°C subjected for 15 minutes holding time in a digital burnout furnace. The root canal treatment was performed for both the groups and a Pre-incineration CBCT scan was taken for both the groups as an ante-mortem data. Following heating analysis, root canal treated teeth were examined using a stereomicroscope at 20x resolution to evaluate the morphological changes. The post-incineration CBCT scan was taken as the post-mortem record for each group. Both ante-mortem records and post-mortem records were compared for the forensic analysis. RESULTS: The endodontically treated teeth display a series of macroscopic and stereo-microscopic changes for each temperature scale. The CBCT records identify the thermal stress-induced 3D alterations in the gutta-percha filled teeth. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of changes in human dentition and traces of the endodontically treated teeth can help forensic experts for the identification of the fire victims.

Can active signals of cellphone interfere with electronic working length determination of a root canal in a dental clinic? An in vivo study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the interference of active cellphones during electronic working length (EWL) determination of a root canal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients requiring root canal treatment in the anterior teeth or premolars having single canal and mature apices were selected for this study. Working length determination was done using no. 15 K-file. Electronic apex locators ProPex Pixi and Root ZX mini were used for working length determination. Cellphones iPhone 6s and Xolo Q3000 were evaluated for their interference. The experiment was conducted in a closed room (9 feet × 9 feet). Working length was measured with no cellphone in the room, iPhone 6s in a calling mode, Xolo Q3000 in a calling mode, and Xolo Q3000 and iPhone 6s simultaneously in a calling mode. Stability of the readings was also determined for every condition. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The data were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA and paired t-test at 0.05 level of significance. RESULTS: Results were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of the present study, cellphones do not interfere with the EWL determination.