Effect of Heat on the Fluorescence Properties of Tooth-Colored Restorative Materials and Their Forensic Implications

During antemortem and postmortem comparison of dental records of carbonized victims, restorations may be part of such records. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of heat on the fluorescence behavior of contemporary tooth-colored restorative materials and natural tooth structure when subjected to range of temperatures, using illumination with 405 nm wavelength light. A total of 132 human extracted teeth restored with tooth-colored restorative materials were exposed to heat (200, 500, 900, 1200 degrees C) in an oven for 30 min. Samples were imaged before and after heat treatment. All tooth-colored restorative materials underwent changes in color and in fluorescence properties, at each of the temperatures used. Resin-based restorative materials still fluoresced at 200 degrees C, and at 500 degrees C underwent major color changes due to volatilization of resin. Materials containing inorganic fluorophores still fluoresced at 900 degrees C, while at 1200 degrees C, none of the materials tested in this study showed any fluorescence.