Transmission of dental data on a microdotted paper-based dental chart from a digital pen – trial operations at disaster exercise sites and at a landslide disaster at Hiroshima City

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn Japan, dental charting following a disaster is performed by handwriting the information on a paper-based dental chart before manual input into a computer database. Even if available, radiographic facial or intraoral images, regardless of whether they are analogue or digital, must be stored separately from the dental chart. To create a comprehensive and more permanent database accessible worldwide, we developed a system employing digital pens with image microprocessors. This system digitizes and records characters and drawings as they are being handwritten on a microdotted-paper-based post-mortem dental chart. Data stored in the built-in memory of the digital pen are transferred to a computer or tablet via Bluetooth. Using a cognitive wireless router, the information is relayed to a remote data centre. Radiographic and other images are also transferred into the same folder under a unique ID number. After several practical field tests, the system was employed at a landslide disaster in Hiroshima City. Data transfer was excellent, confirming the efficacy of the new system. This system enables data in any language to be quickly stored in the database, facilitating worldwide searches for missing persons by matching with ante-mortem dental records. The new system saves labour, helps prevent misidentification, and significantly expedites identification processes following a mass disaster.