Dental Records Research Articles

Bitemark analysis comparing the use of digital scans and 3D resin casts.

Although dental patterns are unique, the use of bitemark analysis in personal identification remains controversial. To accurately reproduce and compare three-dimensional models of bitemarks and dental arches, intraoral three-dimensional scans, commonly utilized in clinical dental practice for precise and stable digital impressions, are recommended. This study aims to compare two different techniques for bitemark analysis: a digital method based on the superimposition of digital scans of dental patterns and lesions, and a visual method based on the physical superimposition of impressions and resin casts produced by 3D printing. A sample of 12 volunteers (6 males and 6 females) with a mean age of 26 years was collected as biters. Each subject was asked to bite on custom supports made from semi-rigid water bottles covered with imprintable dental wax. The dental arches and bitemarks were then recorded using an intraoral scanner and dental impressions. Scan superimposition analysis was conducted using CloudCompare software, while resin casts were printed using a 3D printer and physically superimposed on the bitemark impressions by a blind operator, who was not involved in sample collection, bite test execution, prior cast acquisition, or CloudCompare analysis. Both superimposition techniques relied on the selection of 10 corresponding landmarks (on canines and central and lateral incisors of the upper and lower arches) between the dental arches and impressions. The digital superimposition showed an average concordance of 92.5% for the upper arch landmarks and 85% for the lower arch landmarks, with an overall average concordance of 88.8% for both arches combined. In contrast, the visual analysis of resin casts showed an average concordance of 77.5% for the upper arch and 76.7% for the lower arch, with an overall average of 77.1% for both arches combined. In the analysis performed using CloudCompare, the maxillary arch demonstrated the best superimposition, with 4 landmarks (R0, R1, R2, R5) consistently overlapping. The digital analysis outperformed the visual analysis in all four quadrants, particularly in the upper right arch compared to the lower left arch, thereby supporting the integration of digital techniques in forensic applications. Further studies are necessary to validate the digital technique on a larger sample, including subjects with different dental characteristics, bite dynamics, and varying types of supports and substrates.

CURRENT TRENDS IN FORENSIC ODONTOLOGY. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract Background: Forensic odontology is a subfield of dental science that includes the relationship between dentistry and law. Forensic odontology has played a key role in famous criminal cases. Forensic odontology plays a critical role in the identification of human remains of victims (mutilated, burned and decomposed), when fingerprinting and visual recognition, cannot be fulfilled. This review article was conducted to show the implications of forensic dentistry in criminal investigations. Aim: The purpose of this article provides an overview of the evolving trends in traditional methods and the latest concepts used in forensic dentistry. Methodology: The systematic review included articles from Google Scholar, Medline, Scopus, Web Of Sciences, PubMed was conducted. For Search the following keywords: Forensic odontology, dental records, identification of human remains Estimate Age, Sex assessment, Identification following mass fatalities, assessing bite mark injuries, civil cases involving malpractice, analyze bite marks. Results: Conducted a preliminary search and reviewed 82 titles and abstracts in this review and 27 full-text articles were selected of high methodological quality. Teeth are often resistant to decay even in major accidents, crimes, burials, or other severe exposures to the elements. Therefore, a person's dentition is useful for individual identification and comparison if records exist for this purpose. Various methods have been developed forensic dentistry to determine the age, gender, and ethnicity of an individual using dental tissue. The need for documented procedures and protocols is important for the dentist to In the case of victim identification disaster identification indicators (DVI), allowing for process auditing, they also serve to ensure identification reliability. Dental professionals play a major role in keeping accurate dental records and providing all necessary information so that legal authorities may recognize malpractices, negligence, fraud child abuse and also, identify an individual. In order to serve the forensic operation and the legal authorities, dentists should be familiar with the basics of forensic dentistry, which will create awareness for the preservation of dental data. Conclusion: Forensic dentistry (odontology) plays an important role in resolving dental malpractice or negligence issues, including evaluation, report writing, and/or testifying in court. Every dentist has a responsibility to understand the forensic activities related to their dental practice and should be aware of the available technologies and their use in forensic dentistry. The data collection methods and additional technologies used in forensic dental identification have undergone significant transformation. Artificial intelligence is a technology that is still evolving in forensic dentistry, and its usefulness depends on the specific use case and implementation. New research in forensic dentistry should be encouraged.

A Novel Algorithm for Forensic Identification Using Geometric Cranial Patterns in Digital Lateral Cephalometric Radiographs in Forensic Dentistry.

Lateral cephalometric radiographs are crucial in dentistry and orthodontics for diagnosis and treatment planning. However, their use in forensic identification, especially with burned bodies or in mass disasters, is challenging. AM (antemortem) and PM (postmortem) radiographs can be compared for identification. This study introduces and evaluates a novel algorithm for extracting cranial patterns from digital lateral cephalometric radiographs for identification purposes. Due to the unavailability of AM cephalograms from deceased individuals, the algorithm was tested using pre- and post-treatment cephalograms of living individuals from an orthodontic archive, considered as AM and PM data. The proposed algorithm encodes cranial patterns into a database for future identification. It matches PM cephalograms with AM records, accurately identifying individuals by comparing cranial features. The algorithm achieved an accuracy of 97.5%, a sensitivity of 97.7%, and a specificity of 95.2%, correctly identifying 350 out of 358 cases. The mean similarity score improved from 91.02% to 98.10% after applying the Automatic Error Reduction (AER) function. Intra-observer error analysis showed an average Euclidean distance of 3.07 pixels (SD = 0.73) for repeated landmark selections. The proposed algorithm shows promise for identity recognition based on cranial patterns and could be enhanced with artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms in future studies.

Positive identification through comparative dental analysis in mass disaster: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The study aimed to assess the probability of achieving positive identification through comparative dental analysis (CDA) and to determine the factors that influence its success rate in mass disaster scenarios. An electronic literature search was conducted across six databases for observational studies that reported both the total number of mass disaster victims and the count of victims identified through CDA alone. A random-effect meta-analysis, using the proportion of victims identified with CDA as the effect size, was conducted alongside subgroup analyses based on the type of disaster (natural or non-natural), the disaster classification (open or closed), and the geographical region (i.e., Europe, Asia). The search yielded 3133 entries, out of which 32 studies were deemed eligible. Most of the studies (96.8%) presented a low risk of bias. The meta-analysis revealed a mean weighted-proportion probability of 0.32, indicating that forensic odontology could identify about one-third of the victims in a mass disaster. The probability of comparative dental identification was three times higher in closed mass disasters compared to open disasters (p < 0.05) and was higher in mass disasters occurring in North America and Europe compared to other regions (p < 0.05). The current result suggested that CDA can identify approximately 32% of a victim in a hypothetical scenario, emphasizing the integral role of teeth and forensic odontology in victim identification framework.

Artificial intelligence and dental age estimation: development and validation of an automated stage allocation technique on all mandibular tooth types in panoramic radiographs.

Age estimation in forensic odontology is mainly based on the development of permanent teeth. To register the developmental status of an examined tooth, staging techniques were developed. However, due to inappropriate calibration, uncertainties during stage allocation, and lack of experience, non-uniformity in stage allocation exists between expert observers. As a consequence, related age estimation results are inconsistent. An automated staging technique applicable to all tooth types can overcome this drawback.This study aimed to establish an integrated automated technique to stage the development of all mandibular tooth types and to compare their staging performances.Calibrated observers staged FDI teeth 31, 33, 34, 37 and 38 according to a ten-stage modified Demirjian staging technique. According to a standardised bounding box around each examined tooth, the retrospectively collected panoramic radiographs were cropped using Photoshop CC 2021® software (Adobe®, version 23.0). A gold standard set of 1639 radiographs were selected (n31 = 259, n33 = 282, n34 = 308, n37 = 390, n38 = 400) and input into a convolutional neural network (CNN) trained for optimal staging accuracy. The performance evaluation of the network was conducted in a five-fold cross-validation scheme. In each fold, the entire dataset was split into a training and a test set in a non-overlapping fashion between the folds (i.e., 80% and 20% of the dataset, respectively). Staging performances were calculated per tooth type and overall (accuracy, mean absolute difference, linearly weighted Cohen's Kappa and intra-class correlation coefficient). Overall, these metrics equalled 0.53, 0.71, 0.71, and 0.89, respectively. All staging performance indices were best for 37 and worst for 31. The highest number of misclassified stages were associated to adjacent stages. Most misclassifications were observed in all available stages of 31.Our findings suggest that the developmental status of mandibular molars can be taken into account in an automated approach for age estimation, while taking incisors into account may hinder age estimation.

Efficacy of Mastoid Morphometry in Sex Determination Using Cone-beam Computed Tomography: A Retrospective Analysis in Dakshina Kannada Population.

To evaluate the morphology of the mastoid process and its role in sex determination with the help of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). A retrospective study was conducted on 200 adults who were subjected to full FOV CBCT scans (100 males and 100 females). Eight parameters of the mastoid process were assessed for sex determination. The study measured eight parameters of the mastoid process, including mastoid length (ML), mastoid width, mastoid height (MH), intermastoidale distance (IMD), intermastoidale lateral surface distance (IMLSD), mastoid medial convergence angle, mastoid size (MS), and mastoid surface area (MSA). Data were recorded and statistically analyzed. Statistics revealed a significant value for MH (p < 0.001), IMD (p < 0.001), IMLSD (p < 0.001), MSA (p < 0.001), MS (p < 0.001), and ML (p = 0.032). A highly significant value was noted for MH (p < 0.001), IMD (p < 0.001), IMLSD (p < 0.001), MSA (p < 0.001), MS (p < 0.001), followed by ML, all of which were found to be greater in males. Out of the eight parameters, IMD was found to be the best sex determinant among all the eight parameters, with an accuracy of 70%. The study showed a significant difference between the mastoid process morphometric measurements for males and females. It can be concluded from the present study that IMD can be used as a good index for sex determination. The combined parameters that were found to be the most accurate were right MH, left ML, and IMLSD, with an accuracy of 75%. The three-dimensional imaging techniques can contribute significantly towards disaster victim identification and sex determination in the fields of forensic odontology and anthropology. For the recognition of victims, sex determination becomes one of the most difficult parameters to assess. In such events, the mastoid process can become an important anatomical landmark for the estimation of sex. This is due to the condensed nature of the petrous bone and its protected position in the skull. How to cite this article: Ahmed J, Saha A, Muralidharan A, et al. Efficacy of Mastoid Morphometry in Sex Determination Using Cone-beam Computed Tomography: A Retrospective Analysis in Dakshina Kannada Population. J Contemp Dent Pract 2024;25(5):453-458.

Three-dimensional replica of the temporal bone in the teaching of human anatomy.

The current study proposes the comparison of the visualization and identification of anatomical details between natural human temporal bone, its respective copy from three-dimensional printing, and the virtual model obtained from CBCT. The sample consisted of undergraduate students in Dentistry (Group UE, n = 22), Postgraduate students in Radiology and Imaging (Group P-RI, n = 20), and Postgraduate students in Forensic Odontology (Group P-FO, n = 24). All participants attended a theoretical class on specialized anatomy of the temporal bone and subsequently performed the markings of 10 determined structures. The number of correct identifications was similar in natural bone and printed three-dimensional models in all groups (p > 0.05). The virtual model showed a significantly lower number of correct structures (p < 0.05) in the 3 groups. In general, there were significantly higher percentages of accurate answers among postgraduate students compared to undergraduate students. Most graduate students believed that the printed three-dimensional model could be used to teach anatomy in place of natural bone, while undergraduate students disagreed or were unsure (p < 0.05). Regarding the virtual tomographic image, in all groups, students disagreed or were not sure that its use would be beneficial in replacing natural bone. Three-dimensional and virtual models can be used as auxiliary tools in teaching anatomy, complementing practical learning with natural bones.

Identification of Deceased Individual Using Forensic Odontology Techniques

Identification of Deceased Individual Using Forensic Odontology Techniques

Integration of Bite Mark Microbiome Analysis with Forensic DNA Profiling: Advancements, Challenges, and Synergistic Approaches.

Bite mark analysis plays a pivotal role in forensic investigations, by helping to identify suspects and establish links between individuals and crime scenes. However, traditional bite mark methodologies face significant challenges due to issues with reliability and subjectivity. Recent advances in microbiome analysis, which involves identifying and characterizing the microbial communities found in bite marks, have led to the emergence of a promising tool for forensic investigations. The integration of microbiome analysis with conventional DNA profiling enables more accurate interpretation of bite mark evidence in forensic investigations. This review provides an in-depth look at the integration of bite mark microbiome analysis with forensic DNA profiling. It also addresses the challenges and strategies involved in microbiome-based bite mark analysis for forensic purposes.

The Correlation of Tooth Sizes and Jaw Dimensions with Biological Sex and Stature in a Contemporary Central European Population.

Dental anthropology provides a deep insight into biological, ecological and cultural aspects associated with human individuality, behaviour and living conditions and the environment. Our study uses a correlation analysis to test the metric relationships between tooth sizes and jaw dimensions and juxtaposes them with biological sex and stature. A sample of n = 100 dental casts was used to record metric dental data including the mesio-distal and bucco-lingual tooth crown diameters and nine upper and lower jaw dimensions. All crown diameters were highly correlated with both stature and biological sex, with the canines exhibiting the highest correlation. The majority of jaw dimensions exhibited similar correlations. Our results suggest that the differences between the sexes in most crown diameters and some jaw dimensions may be related to the stature of the individuals measured. Two groups of closely correlating features emerged among the jaw dimensions, differing in their degree of correlation with crown diameters and with sex. The results and insights obtained are highly relevant for evolutionary biology, dentistry, craniofacial research, bioarchaeology and forensic odontology.

Creation and impacts on student training of the Academic League of Forensic Anthropology and Forensic Dentistry - LAFOL/UFSC

Creation and impacts on student training of the Academic League of Forensic Anthropology and Forensic Dentistry - LAFOL/UFSC

Collaboration between forensic odontology and forensic pathology is crucial in Disaster Victim Identification

While forensic pathologists have always played a pivotal role in victim identification after mass casualties, new developments in forensic methods have given forensic anthropologists more agency in positively identifying individuals who were previously unidentifiable.This review aims to contribute to the refinement of diagnostic tools, ensure optimal utilization of remnants and information available, and emphasize the contributions of forensic pathologists and forensic odontologist to victim identification and the importance of forensic pathologists and forensic odontologist in the criminal justice system. Considering the Interpol DVI Guide's emphasis on fingerprints, dental examinations, and DNA as primary identifiers, the forensic pathologist's role as the leader of a multidisciplinary team of experts in a disaster situation has taken on new significance. This is due to the forensic pathologist's and forensic odontologist training and experience leading similar teams during routine operations at a forensics institute. This thorough examination highlights the utmost significance of the job carried out by forensic pathologists and forensic odontologist. They play an important role in the judicial process by providing expert views in criminal investigations. Their expertise ensures accurate identification of victims and provides critical evidence that is necessary for holding offenders responsible. Their contributions are fundamental to the administration of justice, highlighting the great importance of their function in the overall structure of the criminal judicial system.

Forensic Dental Identification During Wartime: Impact of AI and Digital Dentistry

Forensic Dental Identification During Wartime: Impact of AI and Digital Dentistry

Forensic dentistry\'s invaluable contribution to human identification

Forensic dentistry\'s invaluable contribution to human identification

Accuracy of automated forensic dental age estimation lab (F-DentEst Lab) on large Malaysian dataset

When a disaster occurs, the authority must prioritise two things. First, the search and rescue of lives, and second, the identification and management of deceased individuals. However, with thousands of dead bodies to be individually identified in mass disasters, forensic teams face challenges such as long working hours resulting in a delayed identification process and a public health concern caused by the decomposition of the body. Using dental panoramic imaging, teeth have been used in forensics as a physical marker to estimate the age of an individual. Traditionally, dental age estimation has been performed manually by experts. Although the procedure is fairly simple, the large number of victims and the limited amount of time available to complete the assessment during large-scale disasters make forensic work even more challenging. The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) in the fields of medicine and dentistry has led to the suggestion of automating the current process as an alternative to the conventional method. This study aims to test the accuracy and performance of the developed deep convolutional neural network system for age estimation in large, out-of-sample Malaysian children dataset using digital dental panoramic imaging. Forensic Dental Estimation Lab (F-DentEst Lab) is a computer application developed to perform the dental age estimation digitally. The introduction of this system is to improve the conventional method of age estimation that significantly increase the efficiency of the age estimation process based on the AI approach. A total number of one-thousand-eight-hundred-and-ninety-two digital dental panoramic images were retrospectively collected to test the F-DentEst Lab. Data training, validation, and testing have been conducted in the early stage of the development of F-DentEst Lab, where the allocation involved 80 % training and the remaining 20 % for testing. The methodology was comprised of four major steps: image preprocessing, which adheres to the inclusion criteria for panoramic dental imaging, segmentation, and classification of mandibular premolars using the Dynamic Programming-Active Contour (DP-AC) method and Deep Convolutional Neural Network (DCNN), respectively, and statistical analysis. The suggested DCNN approach underestimated chronological age with a small ME of 0.03 and 0.05 for females and males, respectively.

Estimation of age implementing pulp tooth volume ratio in maxillary canines of an Indian population by means of CBCT scans.

Forensic odontology is a subfield of forensics that can assist in determining age, gender, and other demographic factors. The focus of this research is to ascertain age by tooth volume ratio of permanent maxillary canines using a CBCT scan. In this retrospective investigation, 1000 CBCT images were gathered and focused on only fully developed maxillary canines. For each of the maxillary canines, the researchers measured and calculated the volume of the pulp chamber, root canal, and entire tooth using the ITK Snap programme. The pulp volume to tooth volume ratio was computed. The equation AGE = 59.208 - (583.652 x pulp volume/tooth volume) was then used to compute age. The samples were divided into 5 age groups; 13-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, and 51-60. The age was calculated for samples in each group and it was compared to the actual age. Between individuals' actual age and computed age, the study discovered a statistically significant positive association. While groups 3, 4, and 5 demonstrated positive but weaker correlations (r= 0.854, r= 0.658, and r= 0.612, respectively), groups 1 and 2 displayed statistically significant strong positive correlations (r= 0.987 and r= 0.923, respectively). The average total discrepancy between the age that was computed and the actual age was 2.45 1.344. The study found a statistically significant positive correlation between computed age and actual age, with the younger age groups 1 (13-20) and 2 (21-30) showing the strongest relationships. This underlines its potential success in court, particularly when dealing with young criminals.

Assessment of Sexual Dimorphism Through Lateral Cephalogram in Children Aged 10-12 Years.

Forensic dentistry integrates interdisciplinary scientific knowledge to produce accurate and reliable forensic statements. Anthropometry, essential since its introduction by Alphonse Bertillon in 1882, describes human body shapes and has significant forensic applications. This study focuses on sexual dimorphism, phenotypic differences between males and females, using lateral cephalometric measurements to determine sex in children aged 10-12 years from the Chengalpattu population. The cross-sectional study included 80 participants (40 boys and 40 girls). Lateral cephalograms were analyzed using Ceph Ninja Pro software to obtain 15 cephalometric measurements. Statistical analysis using SPSS Software (Version 22.0) involved t-tests to identify significant differences (P<0.05). Discriminant function analysis assessed the predictive power of these variables. Seven variables showed significant differences between sexes. Discriminant models based on these variables determined sex with varying reliability. Ramus length was the most reliable predictor (81%), while maxillary length had the lowest reliability (62%). The study's findings align with existing literature, indicating the robustness of ramus length for sex determination. However, the low reliability of maxillary length contrasts with studies that found it useful for sex differentiation, suggesting variability across populations and age groups. Combining multiple cephalometric variables improved accuracy, consistent with previous research. Lateral cephalograms are effective for assessing sexual dimorphism in children. The study supports the forensic and clinical utility of cephalometric measurements and calls for further research with diverse populations and advanced imaging techniques to enhance method reliability and applicability.

Comparative histologic evaluation of teeth decalcified by conventional method versus microwave induced decalcification

Abstract Introduction: Complete demineralization of hard tissues with preservation of organic components to retain their tissue architecture and to obtain thin section for histological examination is done by a process known as “decalcification”. Tooth decalcification may be achieved by subjecting the tissue to a decalcifying chemical agent and employing heat, vacuum, or electric current to enhance the procedure. Completion of decalcification is adjudged by determination of end-point. Histological examination of hard tooth tissues and pulp is essential for diagnosis of developmental pathologies, pulp pathologies, and forensic odontology analysis as well as for research purpose. Aim: In our study, we studied the time consumed for decalcification procedure by conventional decalcification method and with the microwave-assisted decalcification method for teeth, using 5% nitric acid, 5% trichloracetic acid, and 14% EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), respectively, along with morphological preservation of dentin and pulp tissue by analyzing preservation of their issue structure (pulp shrinkage, odontoblastic layer damage) and staining efficacy (patchy staining) for the three types of decalcifying agents used. Materials and Method: The sample for this study included 120 freshly extracted teeth consisting of teeth of mandibular dentition. Samples were divided into two study groups: Group I: Decalcified by Conventional method Group II: Decalcified by Microwave method. Each group consisted of, three sub-groups employing a different decalcifying agent from among the three decalcifying agents used, that is, 5% nitric acids, 5% trichloroacetic acid, and 14%EDTA respectively. Result: The difference in speed of decalcification for both groups showed significant result. In either group, decalcification was fastest using 5% nitric acid. The difference in number of decalcified teeth sections showing shrinkage of pulp was not statistically significant for both groups. Damaged odontoblastic layer was evident only in the teeth treated with 5% nitric acid by microwave method. Patchy staining was observed in a few samples of all sample groups except those decalcified with EDTA by conventional method but the results were not statistically different on intercomparison. Discussion and Conclusion: Our results are similar to those of previous studies and we found that microwave method is an option that can reduce the time of decalcification. Tooth tissue morphology also was noted to be well preserved with 5% trichloracetic acid and 14% EDTA in comparison to 5% Nitric acid.

Application of Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) Tool in the Estimation of Age from Pulp Volume Ratio in Forensic Dentistry: A Short Review

Application of Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) Tool in the Estimation of Age from Pulp Volume Ratio in Forensic Dentistry: A Short Review

A Study on Gender Identification using Palatal Rugoscopy

Palatal rugae are distinct to every single person, and no two patterns are alike concerning traits, encompassing orientation, length, form, and location. The current study was conducted to identify and determine the association between gender and characteristics of palatal rugae in Kerala and Karnataka population. Analysis of palatal rugae might offer a significant contribution to forensic dentistry, given their unwavering maintenance of shape, arrangement, orientation, and unity throughout an individual's lifespan, except for alterations in size as the palate grows. Sixty maxillary casts (30 from each group including males and females) in Kerala and Karnataka Population were taken and examined in the age group ranging from 18 to 30 years. Palatal rugae pattern were analysed on the right and left sides of the palate for total number, length, shape, direction, and unification according to the Thomas and Kotze’s Classification. Using Graphite pencil the rugae were drawn and compared. Vernier Caliper was used for measuring the length of the Rugae. Total 60 maxillary casts were taken and compared. The total number of rugae was found to be more among females than males. Forward rugae was more in male while backward and perpendicular were more among females. Another significant difference seen would be straight shaped rugae was seen higher in male and curved shape rugae was more among females. And in the unification convergent rugae was seen higher in females and divergent in males. No two palates were seen to be having similar patterns. Palatal rugoscopy can be a better aspect for identification. It can be applied in forensic identification . More researches on palatal rugae would help for a better perspective and to use it in practice.