Swift and accurate disaster victim identification (DVI) is essential for medicolegal closure and repatriation of remains. Dental comparison is one of three primary identification methods recognized by The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), and is conducted by forensic odontologists, often by matching antemortem and postmortem intraoral radiographs. However, obtaining postmortem intraoral images can sometimes be challenging (e.g., from burn victims) and in those cases extraoral methods, especially computed tomography (CT), could be an alternative. This study uses conventional panoramic radiographs (PRs) to simulate CT-reconstructed PRs which are increasingly used in forensic scenarios, where traditional intraoral postmortem imaging is challenging. The aim is to assess the accuracy in comparative dental identification by different professionals when comparing antemortem intraoral radiographs to postmortem PRs. In this retrospective study, intraoral radiographs and PRs from 30 patients were used to simulate a closed disaster event with 25 deceased and 30 possible missing persons. Twenty-five observers from four professional groups-eight oral radiology specialists (ORs), three forensic odontologists (FOs), six dentists trained in the basics of DVI (DVI-D), and eight dental students (DS) - matched PRs, serving as simulated postmortem radiographs, to antemortem intraoral radiographs using a comparative method. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests. FOs and ORs achieved 100% accuracy, while DS and DVI-D had accuracy rates of 98.5% and 94.7%, respectively. Fillings were the most commonly used radiographic feature for matching. Confidence levels, ranging from "no match" to "established", differed, with 96% of ORs and 92% of FOs selecting established matches compared with 67% of DS and 51% of DVI-D. Conventional PRs can be used for accurate matching in dental identification, particularly when interpreted by experienced observers. FOs and ORs had significantly higher matching accuracy and confidence, emphasizing the critical importance of observer experience; these findings support that ORs may be an asset in DVI operations.
BACKGROUND:Forensic anthropology frequently utilizes mandibular features to establish biological sex. The mandible, being the most resilient cranial bone, demonstrates marked sexual dimorphism. Among its indices, the gonial and antegonial angles have emerged as reliable parameters for sex differentiation. With digital imaging widely available, open-source tools such as GIMP allow precise, reproducible, and cost-effective morphometric analysis of orthopantomograms (OPGs). MATERIALS AND METHODS:This cross-sectional study analyzed 500 archived OPGs (250 males, 250 females; age 20-40 years) from AIIMS Nagpur. In orthopantogram, gonial and antegonial angles were measured bilaterally using GIMP (v2.10.34). Statistical analyses were conducted with Jamovi (v2.6). RESULTS:Females exhibited significantly larger gonial (130.80° ± 5.35) and antegonial (167.85° ± 2.15) angles compared to males (123.03° ± 5.43 and 162.69° ± 2.12, respectively; p <0.001). Regression analysis confirmed significant dimorphism, even after adjusting for age. Discriminant function analysis demonstrated that both angles contributed positively to sex classification, yielding a robust predictive model. No significant sex-related differences were observed in age group distribution (χ² = 0.812, df = 2, p = 0.666). CONCLUSION:Mandibular gonial and antegonial angles measured from OPGs using GIMP demonstrate significant sexual dimorphism in the 20-40-year age group. Females consistently displayed larger angular values, supporting their diagnostic value for sex estimation. These findings underscore the relevance of digital radiography and open-source analysis in forensic anthropology, orthodontics, and maxillofacial surgery.
Age estimation can be carried out through dental methods to determine whether an individual has attained legal majority. The aim of the study was to apply the methods proposed by Caggiano et al. (2022) based on Demirjian et al. (1973) stages and Cameriere et al. (2008), to third molars to estimate the legal age of 18 years, through the evaluation of panoramic radiographs in a Brazilian sample. The final sample of this study comprised 270 radiographs, including 188 from females and 82 from males, belonging to individuals aged between 16.00 and 23.99 years. After data collection, the information was organized in Microsoft Excel© spreadsheets and subjected to descriptive statistical analysis. The method proposed by Caggiano et al. (2022) method based on Demirjian et al. (1973) stages, proved to be more sensitive than specific. In contrast, the method proposed by Cameriere et al. (2008) showed the opposite pattern, demonstrating greater specificity than sensitivity. It can be concluded that the results showed moderate accuracy for both methods.
Age assessment in living individuals is an important question of legal and humanitarian decision-making when reliable identification documents are unavailable. The IOFOS Recommendations for Quality Assurance: Dental Age Assessment in Living Individuals were developed to provide standardized guidance for forensic dental age assessment and have undergone successive revisions over time in response to scientific, methodological, ethical, and legal developments. The most recent revision, completed in January 2026, reflects updated evidence, accumulated practical experience, and evolving international standards. These recommendations define minimum requirements for case documentation, clinical and radiological examination, method selection, use of population-appropriate reference data, uncertainty estimation, and reporting practices. Particular emphasis is placed on transparency, quality assurance, protection of individual rights, and the legal implications associated with age thresholds, especially the determination of minority or majority. The revised recommendations are intended to serve as an international reference framework for dental age assessment in living individuals, to be adapted and integrated into national legal and regulatory systems in accordance with jurisdiction-specific requirements.
PURPOSE:In the realm of forensic science, the Post Mortem Interval (PMI) is a critical component that determines the time that has passed since the person's physiological death. Although techniques exist to precisely determine the PMI, the results are often unreliable. Hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is a transcriptional factor, and in hypoxic conditions, HIF-1α protein is expressed after proteosomal degradation and ubiquitination pathway involving von Hippel-Lindau protein (pVHL). The aim of the study was to assess HIF-1α mRNA expression in human gingival tissues at different PMIs. METHODS:Gum tissues were collected from cadavers at three definite intervals, namely short PMI (SPMI), medium PMI (MPMI), and long PMI (LPMI). The relative fold change in gene expression of HIF-1α was studied by RT PCR. Histopathological analysis of the tissue samples was done to determine the PMI. RESULTS:In the case of short PMI (SPMI), the relative fold change in gene expression of HIF-1α is 26.90 ± 23.62. However, in the medium PMI (MPMI) and long PMI (LPMI), the relative fold change in gene expression decreased to 6.32 ± 10.90 and 5.33 ± 8.12, respectively. Histopathological analysis of the post mortem samples revealed less necrosis in SPMI than LPMI. Inflammatory cell infiltration is more in SPMI than MPMI, with their notable absence in LPMI. Ulceration was prominent in LPMI. Destructive vasculitis was visible in SPMI and MPMI. Cystic changes were increased in MPMI and LPMI. CONCLUSION:Combined gene expression of HIF-1α and histopathological analysis is a good option for determination of PMI.
The maxillary sinus exhibits sexual variation that is useful for forensic identification. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) enables precise quantification of linear and volumetric dimensions; however, evidence regarding the most discriminative parameter remains heterogeneous. This study aimed to determine whether CBCT-derived morphometry of the maxillary sinuses discriminates biological sex in adults and to quantify classification performance. We conducted a retrospective observational study and randomly selected 108 CBCT scans from 150 eligible records (age 20-70 years, permanent dentition). Height, width, length, and volume were measured bilaterally from standardized multiplanar reconstructions; normality was assessed and sexes were compared using Student's t test. Males showed larger sinus volumes than females (right: 17.41 ± 1.61 vs 15.38 ± 1.79 cm³; left: 17.46 ± 1.37 vs 15.86 ± 2.02 cm³; p <0.001). In side-specific univariate linear discriminant analysis with 10-fold cross-validation, width was the best single predictor: right width AUC = 0.80 (95% CI: 0.72-0.88) and accuracy = 0.72 (95% CI: 0.63-0.79); left width AUC = 0.74 (0.64-0.83) and accuracy = 0.68 (0.59-0.76). In multivariable models using width + age, linear discriminant analysis achieved AUC = 0.771 (95% CI: 0.676-0.858) and accuracy = 0.722 (95% CI: 0.631-0.798), with sensitivity = 0.729 (95% CI: 0.590-0.834) and specificity = 0.717 (95% CI: 0.592-0.815); logistic regression performed similarly (AUC = 0.771; accuracy = 0.713). Conclusions: CBCT-based morphometry of the maxillary sinus discriminates sex with moderate performance; width is the most informative single metric in this cohort. For forensic application, population-specific external validation and multivariable models integrating shape and volume descriptors are recommended.
INTRODUCTION:Orthodontic treatment in cleft lip and palate and craniofacial anomalies is complex and requires a multidisciplinary approach. There are often multiple possible treatment plans. To properly explain and discuss the various options, such as management of frequently missing incisors or the choice between orthognathic surgery and dental compensation, assessment of burden of treatment must be made and adequately communicated to the patients and families. PATIENTS AND METHODS:105 patients affected by cleft lip and palate and craniofacial anomalies were retrospectively collected and divided into two groups. The first group included patients whose orthodontic diagnosis involved missing elements, where treatment could be either space closure or space opening. The second group included patients with skeletal discrepancies, who could be treated with dental compensation or with orthognathic surgery. For all patients of both groups two different virtual treatment plans with the Clin Check® software were developed, corresponding to the different treatment possibilities. Clinical aspects which might have influenced treatment choice, such as treatment time, need for extractions, need for prosthetic replacements and need for cooperation were quantified. Logistic regression and Fisher exact test were applied to assess which aspects of treatment led patients to one of the different binary solutions. RESULTS:Length of treatment was not an aspect which differed between choices, while the need for high cooperation and need for tooth extractions were. The clear explanation and visual description of advantages and disadvantages of a treatment, seem to help patients in the selection of the expected solution in terms, not only of final occlusal and aesthetic result, but also in terms of burden of care. Though far from sufficient, the visual tool aids patients and families to take an "informed" decision, with significant legal inferences. Embracing these principles is essential to meet legal standards and foster trust, helping patients make well-informed decisions that align with their personal values and clinical needs. This approach not only respects patient autonomy but also reduces the risk of non-compliance, emotional strain, and potential legal issues, ultimately leading to better therapeutic outcomes and stronger clinician-patient relationships.
Accurate age classification using mandibular third molar radiographs is crucial for legal and forensic applications. This study evaluated different methods for classifying age as under or over 18 years in a Thai population. We compared three approaches: (i) a traditional human-based method using a modified Demirjian classification adapted for mandibular third molars, (ii) an end-to-end deep learning model in which a convolutional neural network (CNN) directly predicts age group, and (iii) a human-defined feature extraction approach, where a CNN estimates tooth developmental stages that are subsequently used for age classification. The dataset included 3,407 images of individuals aged 14-23 years. The results indicated that the traditional human-based method achieved high specificity (0.99) and a strong Bayes' post-test probability (0.99), but it exhibited low sensitivity (0.45). In comparison, the end-to-end deep learning models showed higher sensitivity (0.65 to 0.74) than the traditional method, along with a specificity of 0.91 to 0.95 and Bayes' post-test probability of 0.93 to 0.95. The human-defined feature extraction approach, which used developmental stages for age determination, achieved an accuracy of 0.88 to 0.92 in developmental stage classification. For age classification, the models demonstrated higher specificity (0.95 to 0.97) and Bayes' post-test probability (0.95 to 0.97) than the end-to-end deep learning method, along with sensitivity ranging from 0.51 to 0.56. Our results indicate that although traditional methods excel in specificity, the human-defined feature extraction approach provides a balanced solution with high specificity and interpretability, suggesting its potential value in clinical practice for age estimation.
BACKGROUND:Denture labelling is an underutilised tool with many applications. Identification of patient's denture can help to prevent loss of the appliance and be used posthumously in Forensic Odontology. AIM:The aim of the survey was to assess the perceptions, education, and technique preferences of dental practitioners regarding denture labelling in Australia and identify any barriers. The survey also assesses the dental practitioners' awareness of denture labelling and forensic dental identification. MATERIALS AND METHODS:A questionnaire survey was conducted between "March 2023 to November 2023". Participants consisted of general dentists, prosthodontists and dental prosthetists were surveyed across Australia. Participants who were recruited anonymously via email and information sheet through organisations including the Australian Dental Prosthetist Association (ADPA), Griffith University, the University of Sydney, and the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons. The survey consists of twenty-one questions relating to the participants' demographic background, the practice of denture labelling in their workplace, and awareness of denture labelling and forensic dental identification. RESULTS:Fifty-two participants completed the survey. Participants include thirty-three general dentists, sixteen dental prosthetists and three prosthodontists. 63.5% (n=51) of the participants were not taught to label dentures. The majority (67.3%; n=35) of the practitioners had never labelled a denture, whereas 15.4% (n=8) labelled dentures less than once a year, and 11.5% (n=6) monthly. Dental prosthetists and Prosthodontists are more likely to label a denture than a general dentist (p=0.003). Removable complete acrylic dentures were most commonly labelled (maxillary 94%; n=16 and mandibular 81%; n=14), with the preference for placing the label posteriorly at the palatal and lingual surfaces of the maxillary and mandibular denture (39%; n=26and 36%; n=25 respectively). The most significant barriers to denture labelling were time (mean score: 2.98 out of 5) and labour (mean score: 2.88 out of 5). The cohort was split on their exposure to forensic odontology (46%; n=24 said yes, 50%; n=26 said no);however, 71% (n=37) were aware that denture labelling could be used for forensic dental identification, and 75% (n=39) in support of mandatory denture labelling in hospitals and aged care facilities. CONCLUSION:Denture labelling remains an underutilised in Australia despite widespread recognition of its value. Dental prosthetists and more experienced practitioners were more likely to implement denture labelling; however, time, labour, and cost were identified as key barriers. Although denture labelling is insufficiently covered in dental curricula, practitioners demonstrated awareness of its benefits and expressed strong support for making it mandatory in institutional settings.
BACKGROUND:Training in dental age estimation (DAE) is inconsistent in undergraduate dental curricula. This study aimed to assess the impact of a structured teaching intervention on the inter-rater agreement and accuracy of undergraduate students using the Demirjian staging method. MATERIAL AND METHODS:Eighteen dental students with no prior training in forensic odontology assessed seven panoramic radiographs using Demirjian's method during a pre-teaching session. This was followed by a 90-minute lecture led by a qualified forensic odontologist, which included a presentation, interactive discussion, and practical demonstration of the Demirjian staging system. The same radiographs were re-evaluated by the students two weeks later. Inter-observer agreement was assessed using Fleiss' Kappa, while accuracy was determined by comparing the students' staging results to those of the primary observer. RESULTS:Initial inter-observer agreement was moderate (κ = 0.45), increasing to substantial agreement (κ = 0.76) after the teaching session. Overall, accuracy improved from 46% to 73% post-teaching. The highest improvement was seen in the incisors, which improved from 48% to 92%. CONCLUSION:A brief, structured teaching session substantially improved dental students' reliability and accuracy in DAE. Integrating targeted forensic odontology education into the undergraduate dental curriculum is essential, as even brief instructional interventions can yield notable improvements in both staging consistency and accuracy.
Forensic odontology is one of INTERPOL's three primary identifiers for Disaster Victim Identification (DVI). Forensic dental identification relies on the availability of antemortem dental radiographs, such as orthopantomogram (OPG), dental cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scanned images, bitewing, and periapical (PA) views. These antemortem dental radiographs are used for comparison with postmortem dental radiographs. However, there are other types of non-dental medical radiographs that also capture dental structures. These medical radiographs are proven to be useful in forensic dental identification. This Queensland case series highlights the importance of non-dental radiographic images for the purpose of forensic dental comparison including the first published forensic dental identification involving comparison of a postmortem computer tomography (PMCT) multiplanar reformat (MPR) image with non-dental antemortem radiography. This case series also highlights the benefits of a collaborative working relationship between the forensic odontologist, forensic pathologist, police, and Coroner, in antemortem data collection.
Portable handheld radiograph devices are increasingly common in forensic odontology, particularly in postmortem dental examinations. However, concerns remain regarding radiation exposure to operators handling these devices in mortuary settings. This study aimed to assess the radiation dose to the lens of the eye and fingers of the operator that is exposed to radiation from the NOMAD™ Pro handheld Radiograph. The radiation exposure on the operator of a dental portable handheld radiograph device in the dental postmortem procedure was monitored from March 2020 to February 2021. NanoDot™ OSL Dosimeters (Landauer, IL, USA) were positioned near the eyes and fingers of the operator to estimate the radiation dose. The dosimeters were then analysed using the LAUNDER's MicroStar reader and corrected based on the background reading and calibration parameters. Data from 80 procedures were analysed with the equivalent yearly doses for eyes and fingers were estimated and compared to the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommended limits. Results showed that the annual dose estimation for the lens of the eyes was 1.34 (range 0.56-6.57) mSv/yr while the fingers were 1.52 (range 0.40-5.51) mSv/yr. Radiation exposure to the fingers was slightly higher than exposure to the eyes but remained within requirements of the ICRP dose limits. In conclusion, even though portable radiograph equipment is useful in forensic odontology, operators only receive safe and low levels of radiation exposure. The continuous safe use of these devices in postmortem dental examinations is ensured by appropriate monitoring and adherence to safety procedures.
A survey was conducted of the dental professional liability cases adjudicated (post-appeal) throughout the Brazilian territory during the years 2022 and 2023. Data was retrieved from the Jusbrasil website (www.jusbrasil.com.br), and the characteristics of the lawsuits were assessed and compared with those reported in previous studies. The query entered into the "case law search" field was "dental professional liability". An assessment was conducted of 472 rulings referring to 2022 and 447 rulings referring to 2023 in which the dentist was convicted in 61% and 68% of the cases, respectively. There was no increase in the number of cases between the years included in the assessment; however, an increase did occur in the number of cases when compared to that reported in another methodologically similar study. An expert's report was solicited by the court in 75% of the cases. The most frequently involved specialties were implant dentistry and prosthodontics, and there was a tendency toward an increase in lawsuits involving companies as opposed to individuals. The amounts awarded for moral and aesthetic damages ranged from US$ 299.00 to US$ 19,960.00. The highest mean value awarded for moral damages involved the specialty of oral & maxillofacial surgery and traumatology, whereas the lowest mean value was associated with restorative dentistry. The amount most frequently awarded in convictions across the two years included in the survey was US$ 1,954.00. The adoption of preventive measures can potentially reduce the number of new cases, convictions and financial losses resulting from civil liability lawsuits.
BACKGROUND:Unilateral cleft lip and palate affects dental and skeletal maturation, leading to delays that impact treatment planning and forensic age estimation. Understanding the correlation between dental age, skeletal age, and chronological age is essential for clinical and medico-legal applications. AIM:To evaluate and compare dental and skeletal age in non-syndromic unilateral cleft lip and palate patients with an age- and gender-matched non-cleft control group. MATERIALS AND METHODS:This cross-sectional study included 216 individuals (108 unilateral cleft lip and palate cases and 108 controls), aged 7 to 18 years. Dental age was assessed using Acharya's modified Demirjian method on panoramic radiographs, while skeletal age was estimated using the Greulich and Pyle Atlas from left hand-wrist radiographs. Statistical analyses were conducted to compare dental age, skeletal age, and chronological age. RESULTS:Skeletal age was more delayed than dental age, with males experiencing greater delays than females. Males had a mean skeletal delay of 0.92 years (p < 0.001), and females had a delay of 0.90 years (p < 0.001). Dental age delay was 0.28 years in males (p = 0.016) and 0.21 years in females (p = 0.150, not significant). The most significant delays were observed between ages 10 to 14 years, with a peak skeletal delay of 1.04 years at age 10 in females (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION:Skeletal age is more delayed than dental age, with males experiencing greater delays. These findings highlight the need for individualized treatment planning and reinforce the importance of cleft-specific age estimation methods in forensic and legal contexts. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE:Accurate assessment of skeletal and dental age is essential for timely orthodontic and surgical interventions and for preventing age misclassification in forensic applications.
Fractures of the mandibular angle following surgical extraction of the third molar occur at an incidence ranging from 0.0034% to 0.0075%. The low incidence and the data present in the literature reveal how legal claims based on late mandibular fractures from third molar extractions are unlikely, being an uncommon clinical condition. The present case investigates the causal relationship between the fracture of the mandibular angle and the intervention of extraction of a dental element 3.8 in conditions of semi-inclusion and the possible hypothesis of dental malpractice. About two weeks after the extraction, the patient felt a noise like that produced by shattering glass, followed by severe and sudden pain along the area of the left mandibular joint and numbness. The following day, the patient underwent an orthopantomogram performed by the same medical team that carried out the operation in question, with an incorrect diagnosis of dislocation of the condyle, which is to be treated with muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatories. Upon further radiological investigations performed by different operators, it is concluded that the patient is suffering from a "fracture of the left mandibular angle". The patient, therefore, reported and sued the dentists for the crime of negligent personal injury who had extracted element 3.8. From medical history, clinical examination, and documentation produced by the patient, it can be said that the extraction of element 3.8 was necessary as the pericoronary sac had caused an untreatable periodontal lesion at the distal root of the 3.7. From a medico-legal point of view, it was established that the extraction maneuvers may have caused the fracture of the mandibular angle, but it can be excluded professional responsibility in the criminal field of the medical team that carried out the res judicata intervention, since the fact in itself represents a known complication of the extraction of mandibular third molars.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the linear and volumetric measurements of the frontal sinus (FS), using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans, for a discriminatory analysis of gender, age and facial skeletal pattern in a Brazilian population. A total of 300 CBCT scans were analyzed, measuring the height, width, length and volume of the FS. The measurements were divided into groups: sex, age (<20 to >40 years and >40 years) and facial skeletal pattern classes I, II and III. The function values in the centroid group were 0.675 for male and -0.292 for female. A rule was established indicating that if the value of D is greater than 0.19, the sample will be classified as male. The results showed a significant difference in women, who had significantly lower volume, width and depth than men (p-value<0.001, 0.003 and <0.001 respectively). No significant differences could be observed between the age and facial skeletal pattern groups. The results suggest that the FS measures of volume, height, width and depth have moderate discriminatory power for predicting gender in a Brazilian population. In conclusion, the results show that the FS has potential for determining gender, but the accuracy of the method and its applicability for analyzing age and facial skeletal pattern were limited in our population.
This study evaluates the performance of a curvature-based 3D dental comparison method - the keypoint pipeline - for forensic identification, assessing the effects of standardised blunt force trauma on human dentitions. The dental arches in ten human jaw specimens (five maxillae, five mandibulae) were scanned using two intraoral 3D scanners before and after exposure to controlled blunt trauma delivered via a drop tower mechanism applying approximately 3154 Newton of force. Trauma outcomes were documented through high-speed video, digital photography, and 3D scanning. Post-trauma scans were processed using the keypoint pipeline, which quantifies dental surface similarity by comparing curvature signatures. An all-vs-all comparison was conducted between pre- and post-trauma scans, including cross-scanner evaluations. Despite consistent trauma application, fracture patterns varied by jaw type, with mandibular fractures typically occurring in the frontal plane in the side segments and maxillary fractures in the sagittal plane in the midline suture. The keypoint pipeline successfully scored 92.5% of the true matches to be the best matching comparison, even in the presence of significant structural damage and tooth displacement. Matching pairs yielded lower dissimilarity scores (mean: 0.55) compared to mismatches (mean: 0.78), indicating that curvature features were sufficiently preserved post-trauma. These findings support the integration of curvature-based 3D dental surface analysis into forensic odontology workflows, particularly in disaster victim identification scenarios involving blunt force trauma.
Sexual dimorphism is an important biological factor for sex estimation from skeletal remains in medicolegal identification. This study aimed to determine using a discriminant function analysis, whether specific maxillary linear and angular measurements performed in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images may be useful to determine the sex in a Colombian population. The sample consisted of 212 CBCT scans acquired from 86 males and 126 females. The protocol included the assessment of 23 parameters, of which 16 were bilateral and seven were non-bilateral. An intra-observer variability test was performed to ensure data reliability and unpaired t tests were applied to determine between-group differences. Significant predictor variables were subjected to univariate and multivariate discriminant function analyses. A total of five non-bilateral and 14 bilateral measures were statistically significant. Univariate discriminant analyses produced a mean percentage of correct prediction after cross-validation ranging from 55.20% to 72.60% for non-bilateral and from 58.70% to 73.10% for bilateral maxillary variables. The association of variables in the multivariate models increased the percentages of correct sex prediction even after cross-validation up to 77.80% for non-bilateral and up to 77.40% for bilateral maxillary measurements. It was concluded that CBCT measurement of maxillary bone parameters may be applied as a complementary technique to discriminate the sex from human remains through discriminant function analysis methods in the Colombian population.
New complementary methods to aid in the rapid identification of human remains, particularly in cases involving multiple victims and heavily degraded bodies, are valued in the forensic field. In these circumstances, the properties and characteristics of teeth make them incredibly useful for human identification. Dental morphological traits, commonly studied in anthropology, exist in the population with varying frequencies, which makes them very informative. Thus, everyone has their own dental trait profile, that may manifest with greater or lesser frequency in the population. We propose a discriminative method by exclusion for the identification of individuals, based on the evaluation of dental traits, using intraoral 3D images. For this purpose, a group of 10 dental traits was chosen to obtain a personal profile in a population group of 76 individuals. Various scenarios were created to analyze different problem cases, by using matching-exclusion tables. Three individuals (problem cases) with dental trait profiles of very low (1/27703 individuals), medium (1/136 individuals), or high frequency in the population (1/42 individuals) were randomly chosen for the experiment. Using a conservative approach, the most likely candidate for positive identification was determined in eight steps for problem case 1, five steps for problem case 2, and two final candidates were identified in problem case 3, with only one achieving 100% similarity. In contrast, the less conservative approach identified the most likely candidate in four steps for case 1, three steps for case 2, and four steps for case 3. The rarest dental profile did not necessarily require fewer steps. Our work suggests that using the well-known dental morphological traits and recent 3D imaging technology could significantly improve the efficient triage and identification of victims, especially in cases of closed mass disasters.
In forensics, dental age estimation is crucial, and literature has many methods for estimating dental age. London Atlas of Human Tooth Development and eruption method was developed on British and Bangladeshi populations in 2010, and there are likely to be differences between other populations. Malaysian children have not yet been extensively tested for the method's applicability despite its universal acceptance and reliability. This research aimed to test the applicability of The London Atlas of human tooth development and eruption in children of the Malaysian population aged 4 to 16.99 years old. The study sample included 523 panoramic radiographs of healthy patients who had attended the Dental Paediatrics Department Hospital Tunku Azizah, Malaysia, between May 2019 and December 2019. The intra- and inter-observer errors were analysed by taking 53 radiographs and evaluating them over 14 days using the interclass correlation and Cohen's Kappa index. A paired t-test was used to compare chronological and estimated age ANOVA F-tests were used to establish if the difference is statistically significant between chronological and estimated age. The range of age estimation fell within a year due to the mean absolute difference of 0.60 years. The mean age for estimated age was 9.31±3.18 for the overall sample, 9.06±3.09 for males, and 9.60±3.27 for females. Paired t-test analysis showed the mean difference between chronological and estimated age of -0.0365 and was not statistically significant (p=0.240). The result also showed no statistically significant difference between the sexes. The difference between the chronological and estimated age was underestimated within minimal range, 0.002 years in males and 0.08 years in females. The London Atlas of human tooth development and eruption showed high accuracy in Malaysian children.
