Abstract
Objective: Forensic dentistry has used some methods for the human identification process. However, there is a need to study characteristics that are able to perform identification more specifically, increasing accuracy. Considering the role of dental arch assessment in prediction of gender and ethnicity, the purpose of this study was to assess the volume of pulp chamber as a mean to obtain new forensic evidence. Material and methods: For this task, 1.190 cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images were retrospectively selected and subdivided according to the population number, gender, age and ethnicity. All DICOM files were imported to the open-source software ITK-SNAP® (http://www.itksnap.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php). The segmentation process was performed in all pulp chamber aiming to obtain pulp tissue´s volume. Results: As a result, the pulp chamber volume of mandibular canine teeth showed to be larger in white population than in non-white (P-value = 0.003) and in male individuals in comparison with female (P-value = 0.038). Conclusion: These results, however, must be confirmed by future studies with a larger sample size and by the assessment of other variables, including texture analysis and density of dental tissues. KEYWORDS Cone beam computed tomography; Ethnicity; Forensic dentistry; Gender; Pulp chamber volume; Volumetric assessment.
Highlights
The criminality as a cause of death is an extremely worrying issue, reason why new investigation methods must be employed aiming to increase accuracy in identifying deceased individuals
From medical files of dental radiology clinics, a total of 1.190 cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) examinations were selected from the five Brazilian geographical regions (North, Northeast, Central West, Southeast, and South), and subdivided according to the population number, gender, age and ethnicity in each region (Table I)
Concerning ethnicity, significant differences were observed for the mandibular canine pulp chamber
Summary
The criminality as a cause of death is an extremely worrying issue, reason why new investigation methods must be employed aiming to increase accuracy in identifying deceased individuals. Within this context, forensic dentistry and forensic investigation methods should be further studied and elucidated [1,2]. Some investigators have attempted to establish an association between the proportion of pulp chamber area and the tooth measurement via dental radiography to obtain chronological age (CA). Considering all advantages regarding three-dimensional (3D) volume methods in forensics, 3D imaging methods of extracted teeth may help to establish a more accurate association between tooth volume and its corresponding pulp chamber [8]
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