The micro-CT evaluation of enamel-cement thickness, abrasion, and mineral density in teeth in the postmortem interval (PMI): new parameters for the determination of PMI

Objective The estimation of time of death or the determination of the postmortem interval (PMI) is one of the most important issues in forensic medicine and odontology. However, evaluation of bone and dental hard tissues in PMI could be challenging due to the lack of objective methods with high accuracy. In this respect, micro-CT analysis which has not been used for postmortem evaluation would be beneficial in evaluating hard tissues such as bones and teeth. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the alterations in the hard dental tissue, mineral density of enamel, and the surface abrasion of hard dental tissues of rats in the PMI period with a relatively novel method, micro-CT.