  Heat alters colour and crystallinity of teeth by destruction of the organic
content and inducing hydroxyapatite crystal growth. The colour and crystallite
changes can be quantified using spectrophotometric and x-ray diffraction
analyses, however these analyses are not commonly used in combination to
evaluate burned dental remains. In this study, thirty-nine teeth were
incinerated at 300-1000$^\circ$C for 15 and 30 minutes and then measured using
a spectrophotometer and an x-ray diffractometer. Response variables used were
lightness, L$^\ast$, and chromaticity a$^\ast$ and b$^\ast$ and luminance
(whiteness and yellowness) for colour, and crystal size for crystallinity.
Statistical analysis to determine the attribution of these variables revealed
yellowness and crystal size were significantly affected by temperature ($p <
0.05$), whilst duration of heat-exposure showed no significant effect. This
study suggests the inclusion of both spectrophotometric and x-ray diffraction
in investigating thermal-heated teeth is useful to accurately estimate the
temperature teeth are exposed to.
