A MODIFIED STETHOSCOPE TO ASSIST IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF TOOTH COLORED RESTORATIONS

Forensic odontologists are often called upon to assist in the identifi cation of bodies. Since identification of the body relies on compariso n of the post-mortem chart with the ante-mortem record it is important that all restorations present in the deceased's teeth are identified and correctly charted. If a restoration is present in an ante-mortem r ecord then its absence in the post-mortem chart means that the two rec ords cannot belong to the same person, However, tooth-coloured restora tions can be difficult to identify, especially in the less than ideal conditions under which the odontologist may have to work. This study w as designed to evaluate a simple technique for identifying tooth-colou red restorations, exploiting the difference between the surface roughn ess of restorative materials and that of the surrounding tooth substan ce. A conventional dental probe was substituted for the bell of a stet hoscope. Differences in the surface texture of the tooth are reflected in changes in the sound heard by the examiner. The modified stethosco pe is a useful and easily fabricated device, which may reduce the like lihood of small tooth-coloured restorations going unnoticed in post-mo rtem examinations. The ability to detect fissure sealants using the de vice may also prove useful in epidemiological studies.