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ABSTRACT
The term "Pink Teeth" in clinical practice is used to describe a relatively uncommon, insidious and often aggressive form of tooth resorption which results in localized increase in the size of the pulp due to idiopathic pulpal hyperplasia. The other aspect of pink tooth phenomenon is its appearance after the death and hence a possible means of evaluating the cause of death. The present article highlights a review and medico legal aspect of the post mortem pink tooth phenomenon.
Keywords: Forensic Dentistry, Hemoglobin, Pink Tooth Phenomenon, Post Mortem.
INTRODUCTION
In our day to day clinical practice, we come across various types of teeth discolorations. They can be permanent or transient pigmentation which appear due to extrinsic or intrinsic causes. The most commonly observed ones are brown, grey or black and some times pink. The pink tooth is a clinical term used to describe a relatively uncommon, insidious and often aggressive form of tooth resorption mainly inflammatory type, which results in localized increase in the size of the pulp due to idiopathic pulpal hyperplasia. In inflammatory resorption, the resorbed dentin is replaced by inflamed granulation tissue. The resorption continues as long as vital pulp remains; typically, the coronal pulp is necrotic with the apical portion remaining vital. When it affect the coronal pulp, the crown can display a pink discolouration (pink tooth of Mummery, named after the anatomist "James Howard Mummery") as vascular resorptive process approaches the surface1.
Traditionally, a pink tooth has been thought pathognomonic form of internal root resorption which results in localized increase in the size of the pulp due to idiopathic pulpal hyperplasia. It can be a feature of external root resorption, namely peripheral inflammatory external root resorption. Radiographically, it is characterized by an oval shaped enlargement of the root canal space. Histological examination reveals resorption of the internal aspect of the root by multinucleated giant cells adjacent to granulation tissue in the pulp. There are different theories regarding the origin of the pulpal granulation tissue involved in internal resorption. The most logical explanation is that it is pulp tissue that is inflamed because of an infected coronal pulp space. In addition to the requirement of the presence of granulation tissue root resorption takes place only if the odontoblast...