Root Canals of Buried Teeth: Radiographic Changes due to Crystal Growth

✍ Scribed by NICHOLAS PAUL CHANDLER; DAVID MacGREGOR FYFE

• Book ID: 101286827
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 153 KB
• Volume: 7
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1047-482X
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-1212(199701)7:1<11::aid-oa318>3.0.co;2-i

✦ Synopsis

The radiographs of 43 skulls recovered from a 4000-year-old site in Central Thailand were examined for changes in the pulp chamber and root canals of teeth. Eleven specimens aged between 8 and 40 years featured marked root canal radiopacities not consistent with the appearance of dentine. Scanning electron microscopy and electron microprobe analysis revealed the presence of crystals of almost pure calcium. The crystals had developed postmortem, with the likely source of the mineral being sea shells which were abundant at the place of burial.