Formation Times in Thermally Altered Enamel

Enamel formation times reconstructed from incremental markings can provide an accurate age at death for human juveniles if teeth are still forming at the point of death. No study has evaluated whether incremental markings are visible, and if formation times can be reconstructed, in thermally altered enamel. Fourteen human permanent molars were experimentally heated to various temperatures for durations of either 20 min or 1 h. It was found that incremental markings were visible and formation times could be calculated for molars that were heated to a maximum temperature of 472°C for 20 min. Findings can inform studies of human dentition recovered in a forensic context that have been subjected to thermal alteration.