Age estimation through the development of third molars in a case of multiple dismemberment / Estimación de la edad mediante el desarrollo de terceros molares en un caso de desmembramiento múltiple

El crimen organizado se ha convertido en un flagelo a nivel internacional conformado por grupos al margen de la ley que realizan todo tipo de actividades que involucran desde tráfico de personas, secuestros, extorsiones, narcotráfico y muchos otros delitos. Producto de este fenómeno, la desaparición y ejecución de personas es cada día más frecuente, en muchos casos los cuerpos son quemados o desmembrados para impedir o hacer más difícil la identificación. La odontología forense se ha convertido en una disciplina transcendental en la identificación de cadáveres y restos óseos, además de contar con múltiples métodos para estimar la edad aproximada de una persona. Se presenta el caso de un descuartizamiento múltiple de tres individuos masculinos donde era indispensable identificar si alguno correspondía a una persona menor de 18 años.

Organized crime has become an international scourge made up of outlaw groups that carry out all kinds of activities ranging from human trafficking, kidnapping, extortion, drug trafficking and many more. As a result of this phenomenon, the disappearance and execution of people is becoming more frequent every day, in many cases the bodies are burned or dismembered to prevent or make identification more difficult. Forensic odontology has become a transcendental discipline in the identification of corpses and skeletal remains, in addition to having multiple methods to estimate the approximate age of a person. The case of a multiple dismemberment of three male individuals is presented, where it was essential to identify a person under 18 years of age.

Computerized morphometry of the area of the hard palate and of palatal rugae: a cross-sectional study / Morfometría computarizada del área del paladar duro y de las arrugas palatinas: un estudio transversal

Abstract Background: The evaluation of palatal rugae in human identification is important because these structures can remain intact for up to seven days after death. Aim: To compare the area and density of the palatal rugae between ages groups and genders. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional study. Methods and Material: Dental plaster models obtained from patients at the Orthodontic Clinic of University of Uberaba were selected. Two hundred patients were divided into four groups: Group 1:10-15 years; Group 2:16-30 years; Group 3:31-50 years; and Group 4:51-70 years. The palatal rugae and hard palate of each plaster model were outlined and photographed. The evaluation of the area of the hard palate and palatal rugae was performed using the ImageJ software. Statistical analysis used: Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Kruskal-Wallis, Chi-square and Spearman correlation tests using GraphPad Prism 5 statistical software. Results and conclusión: The areas of the palatal rugae and of the hard palate were significantly smaller in the group 4. There was a significant negative correlation between age and palatal rugae area, and between age and hard palatal area. The present study was the first to demonstrate that patients between 51 and 70 years have a smaller palatal rugae area and a smaller hard palate area when compared to other groups. Thus, the evaluation of the hard palate area and of palatal rugae could be used as an adjunct with other methods to determine the age group of an individual; however studies using larger sample size are needed to validate this observation.

A forensic identification case and DPid - can it be a useful tool?

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to show DPid as an important tool of potential application to solve cases with dental prosthesis, such as the forensic case reported, in which a skull, denture and dental records were received for analysis. Material and Methods Human identification is still challenging in various circumstances and Dental Prosthetics Identification (DPid) stores the patient's name and prosthesis information and provides access through an embedded code in dental prosthesis or an identification card. All of this information is digitally stored on servers accessible only by dentists, laboratory technicians and patients with their own level of secure access. DPid provides a complete single-source list of all dental prosthesis features (materials and components) under complete and secure documentation used for clinical follow-up and for human identification. Results and Conclusion If DPid tool was present in this forensic case, it could have been solved without requirement of DNA exam, which confirmed the dental comparison of antemortem and postmortem records, and concluded the case as a positive identification.

Odontología forense III: rugas palatinas y huellas labiales en identificación forense / Forensic dentistry III: palatal rugae and lip prints in forensic identification

Aunque existen métodos de identificación humana más o menos frecuentes en uso, todos ellos se soportan en la comparación inequívoca, científica y fiable, de una información conocida con la obtenida de los restos o de las huellas a procesar. Desde una perspectiva odontológica forense, los surcos labiales, las rugas palatinas y sus negativos o huellas, han sido reconocidos como patrones morfológicos que permitirían identificar a una persona en circunstancias específicas. Estos elementos han sido estudiados tanto comparativa como independientemente buscando detectar las características individuales y poblacionales que permitan reforzarlos como herramientas significativas: se ha informado que tanto la Queiloscopía (el estudio de las huellas labiales) como la Rugoscopía (el estudio de las rugas palatinas) definen rasgos únicos para cada individuo, por lo tanto utilizables razonablemente para una identificación forense. Dado que los reportes de casos forenses permiten identificar cambios en las conductas criminales, en los patrones morfológicos característicos o en la manera de presentar la evidencia pericial, se presenta una revisión de reportes de casos con utilización de evidencia rugoscópica y queiloscópica, junto con discutir sus proyecciones hacia la comunidad científica forense

Even though there exist more or less frequent methods of human identification in use, all of them are supported in the unequivocal, scientific and reliable comparison of known information with the obtained one of the remains or of the prints to processing. Between these methods, and from a dental forensic point of view, the lip prints, the palatal rugae, and their negatives or prints have been admitted as morphologic patterns, which would allow identifying a person in specific circumstances. These elements have been studied comparatively as well as independently trying to detect individual and demographical characteristics that allow to reinforce them as significant tools: it was informed that the Cheiloscopy (the study of the lip prints) as well as the Rugoscopy (the study of palatal rugae) both define unique traits for every individual; therefore, they are useful reasonably for a forensic identification.Since the forensic case reports may help to identify changes in criminal behaviours, in the morphologic typical patterns or in the way of presenting the expert evidence, a review of case reports with utilization of rugoscopical and cheiloscopical evidence is presented, and their projections toward the scientific forensic community are discussed

A comparison of lip prints between Aryans-Dravidians and Mongols.

Context: Lip prints are very useful in forensic investigation and personal identification. Like finger prints, even lip prints can be instrumental in identifying a person positively. Aims: Indians are closer to Mongoloids than to Caucasoids or Negroids as indicated by the phylogenetic tree. Most of the studies on lip prints are done in their own population. We have compared lip prints of Manipuris with other Indians (Aryans and Dravidians) who are both close to Mongoloid race and are genetically similar. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 students 50 males and 50 females were selected of whom 30 males and 30 females were of Aryan and Dravidian features and 20 males and 20 females showed the Mongol features. Study materials used were Red colored lipstick, Lip brush, Cellophane tape, White chart paper and Magnifying lens. The lip prints were analyzed by dividing them into eight compartments. Results: Analysis of lip prints showed that the most common and the least common pattern in both males and females (Aryans-Dravidians and Mongols) were the same, but the compartment wise distribution of the lip patterns was different. Conclusion: In the present study, it is established that there is no similarity of lip prints from one individual to another individual and between males and females. Regarding the comparison with Mongols, more studies with a larger sample size is necessary.

Estimativa da idade por meio de análise radiográfica dos dentes e da articulação do punho: relato de caso pericial / Determination of age by dental and wrist joint radiograph analyses: a forensic case report

A estimativa da idade é um procedimento pericial complexo e que necessita de uma abordagem multidisciplinar visando obter uma idade média ou intervalo mais próximos da idade cronológica do indivíduo periciado. Durante o exame clínico, diversos parâmetros biológicos devem ser considerados e uma análise ósseo-dentária torna-se imprescindível, pelo fato dos fatores ambientais interferirem menos no desenvolvimento dos tecidos mineralizados. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo relatar um caso pericial em que a maioridade penal de um indivíduo foi comprovada mediante exame pericial de estimativa de idade. Para tanto, foram analisados os níveis de fechamento apical dos terceiros molares e o grau de fechamento epifisário do rádio e ulna, por meio de radiografias panorâmica e carpal, respectivamente. Estes dados foram aplicados em tabelas nacionais e internacionais, resultando na obtenção de um intervalo de idade que possibilitou a instauração do procedimento policial, fundamentada em critérios técnicos e científicos.