On the forensic relevance of tattoos: distinguishing black inks with energy dispersive spectroscopy and backscattered scanning electron microscopy.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to analyze black tattoo inks by means of energy dispersive spectroscopy and backscattered scanning electron microscopy. METHODS: The sample consisted of five types of commercial tattoo pigments of the black colour (Easy Glow™, Electric Ink™, Iron Works™, Master Ink™, and Viper™). An Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) detector (Silicon Drift Detector - SDD - type) attached to a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) device (Tescan Vega3 LMU, Libusina, Czech Republic) was used. X-ray characteristic signs were detected for each tattoo ink in an interval between 0 and 2.5 keV. The electron acceleration potential in the microscope was 15 keV. Two regions were analyzed for each sample (n = 10). On each region, a micrography of backscattered electrons (BSE) was obtained. Means and standard deviations (SD) of the weight percentages (Wt%) were calculated. RESULTS: C and O were predominant, with a mean O/C ratio between 2.69 and 2.74 Wt%. Electric Ink and Master Ink were the most similar pigments, while Easy Glow was the most distinctive - with agglomerates of Al that had a concentration 25 × higher than other specimens. Other compounds detected in the sample were Cl and Cu. CONCLUSION: EDS and SEM were efficient to distinguish black tattoo inks. These are our preliminary outcomes on the use of EDS and SEM to analyze black tattoo inks. Thus, careful interpretation is necessary to avoid rash applications in human identification practice.

Psiconeurodontologia, (bio)decodificação dental e os mil e um nomes para o charlatanismo odontológico no século XXI: uma revisão de escopo / Psychoneurodontology, dental (bio)decoding and a thousand terms for odontological charlatanism in the 21st century: a scoping review

Junto às tecnologias que surgem para aprimorar a Odontologia mundial, emergem temáticas que progressivamente prosperam no obscuro e na incerteza. Tais "áreas odontológicas" se caracterizam por uma roupagem prolixa e de alto apelo público (como por meio de inferências sobre o emocional e os mistérios do corpo humano). Em tempos de disseminação da psiconeurodontologia e (bio)decodificação dental, assim como da incerteza acerca de sua confiabilidade, faz-se imperativa a busca pela fundamentação científica que sustenta esta temática. Para isto, foi realizada uma revisão de escopo seguindo as recomendações do PRISMA-ScR e JBI. Uma ampla busca foi realizada em cinco bases de dados e em parte da literatura cinza. Não houve restrição quanto ao ano de publicação e nem quanto ao idioma. Os dados foram coletados e expostos na forma narrativa/descritiva. De maneira complementar, utilizou-se a ferramenta JBI para avaliação da qualidade metodológica. A busca resultou em 4.785 registros iniciais, dos quais somente dois foram classificados como elegíveis. Ambos os estudos foram detectados a partir da literatura cinzenta e consistiam em trabalhos peruanos de conclusão de curso em nível de graduação (Bacharelado) em Odontologia. Os trabalhos aferiam a ocorrência de lesão de cárie em quadrantes de dentes permanentes e decíduos e correlacionavam com um questionário psicoemocional. Os dois trabalhos concluíram em prol da aplicação da psiconeurodontologia e da (bio)decodificação dental como ferramentas adicionais ao armamentário diagnóstico do Cirurgião-dentista. Detectou-se alto risco de viés, em especial acerca das limitações metodológicas dos estudos elegíveis. Tendo em vista os métodos e resultados observados nos estudos elegíveis, pode-se concluir que não há fundamentação científica na psiconeurodontologia ou na (bio)decodificação dental, muito menos validade e confiabilidade para a sua aplicação na prática clínica odontológica atual

Along with the technologies that emerged to improve Dentistry worldwide, there are themes that progressively dive into darkness and uncertainty. Such "dental areas" are characterized by a verbose approach and strong public appeal (such as through inferences about the emotions and mysteries of the human body). In times of dissemination of psychoneurodontology and dental (bio)decoding, as well as uncertainty about their reliability, the search for alleged scientific foundations that support this theme is imperative. To this end, a scoping review was carried out following the recommendations of PRISMA-ScR and JBI. A broad search was carried out in five databases and part of the gray literature. There was no restriction on the year of publication or language. Data were collected and presented in narrative/descriptive form. Complementarily, the JBI tool was used to assess methodological quality. The search resulted in 4.785 initial records, of which only two were classified as eligible. Both studies were detected from the gray literature and consisted of Peruvian studies at Bachelor's degree in Dentistry. The studies measured the occurrence of caries lesions in quadrants of permanent and deciduous teeth and correlated them with a psychoemotional questionnaire. The two studies concluded in favor of the application of psychoneurodontology and dental (bio)decoding as additional tools to the dental surgeon's diagnostic armamentarium. A high risk of bias was detected, especially regarding the methodological limitations of the eligible studies. Considering the methods and results observed in the eligible studies, it can be concluded that there is no scientific basis in psychoneurodontology or dental (bio)decoding, as well as lack of validity and reliability for its application in current clinical dental practice

Soft tissue thickness in Brazilian adults of different skeletal classes and facial types: A cone beam CT - Study.

The aim in this study was to evaluate the influence of skeletal class, facial type, and sex on soft tissue thickness (STT) of the craniofacial midline in a Brazilian subpopulation. Thus, 121 cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans (54 males and 67 females, age 21 to 40 yrs) composed the study sample. Patients were classified according to skeletal class (class I, II, and III) and facial type (brachycephalic, mesocephalic, and dolichocephalic), and STT was measured (mm) in 10 landmarks in the craniofacial midline for each CBCT scan. Multivariate analysis of covariance evaluated facial STT with regard to multiple independent variables (sex, age - covariate, facial type, and skeletal class). TEM and rTEM assessed the intra-examiner agreement. STT was significantly greater in males than in females for all regions measured (p < 0.05), except for the pogonion-pogonion' landmark (p>0.05). In general, class III individuals had significantly thicker soft tissue in the maxilla - subspinale-subnasale', prosthion-labrale superius', and incision-stomion' regions, while class II subjects had thicker soft tissue in the infradentale-labrale inferius' mandibular landmark (p < 0.05). Regarding facial type, dolichocephalic individuals showed significantly thicker soft tissue in the supramentale-supramentale' mandibular landmark, whereas brachycephalic subjects had thicker soft tissue in maxillary regions - prosthion-labrale superius' and incision-stomion' (p < 0.05). rTEM values were below 5% for most landmarks, and all TEM values were below 1 mm. Skeletal class and facial type influence STT, showing a soft tissue compensation, with deeper soft tissue in areas with lower skeletal development, and/or where bone is positioned more posteriorly.

Reliability of measurements on virtual models obtained from scanning of impressions and conventional plaster models

Aim: To evaluate the reliability of linear measurements in virtual models by comparing measurements performed on virtual models obtained from alginate impression scans, plaster model and measurements performed on conventional plaster model. Methods: The sample comprised 26 randomly selected patients to have impressions of their upper and lower jaws taken using alginate and their bite registration using a wax bite. The virtual models were obtained by scanning the alginate impression and the plaster model in a laser surface scanner (R700; 3Shape, Copenhagen, Denmark), and the measurements were performed using the Ortho Analyser (3Shape) proprietary software. The linear measurements of the size of the teeth mesial to distal, arch perimeter, intercanine distance and intermolar distance in the upper and lower arches were performed on plaster models, digital impressions and digital models, by three observers and repeated after 15 days on 8 models for intra-observer evaluations. Data were tabulated and analyzed statistically. Intra-class correlation to check the agreement of intra and inter-observers and ANOVA test were used to analyze the differences between measurements of digital models from impression and digital models from plaster. Results: The results showed a statistically significant difference (pd"0.05) for the posterior teeth, anterior teeth, upper arch perimeter and lower inter-canine distance, comparing the digital models with plaster models, but these differences are considered clinically non-significant. Conclusions: Digital models were proven be reliable and clinically acceptable for measuring tooth width, perimeter arches, intercanine and intermolar distances.

Fusão incomum de distomolar com terceiro molar avaliado por tomografia computadorizada de feixe cônico / Unusual fusion of a distomolar with a third molar assessed by cone-beam computed tomography

Os dentes supranumerários são uma anomalia e podem ser vistos em todos os quadrantes dos maxilares, com maior incidência na maxila. Quando os dentes supranumerários ocorrem distalmente ao terceiro molar, eles são denominados de dentes distomolares. Os distomolares ocorrem mais comumente unilateralmente na maxila de pessoas negras e afetam 2.2% da população. Por outro lado, a fusão ocorre pela união de dois germes dentários separados, desenvolvendo um único dente unido pela dentina e/ou pelo esmalte. A frequência de fusão de dentes permanentes e supranumerários é menor do que 0.1%, e normalmente envolve dentes anteriores da maxila. Radiografias periapicais são rotineiramente utilizadas em endodontia para o diagnóstico e planejamento pré-operatório, bem como durante o trans e pós-operatório. Entretanto, limitações relacionadas à bidimensionalidade dessa modalidade de imagens podem impedir a visualização adequada da anatomia dos canais radiculares dos dentes com variações anatômicas. O objetivo do presente relato foi descrever um caso raro de fusão por meio da tomografia computadorizada de feixe cônico...

Supernumerary teeth are teeth that occur in addition to the normal series. They can be observed in all quadrants of the jaw, with highest incidence in the maxilla. When a supernumerary tooth is distal to the most posterior molar, it is called a distomolar. Distomolars are more common unilaterally, in the maxilla and in black people and affect 2.2% of the population. In contrast, fusion is the result of the union of two separate tooth germs, forming a single tooth joined by dentin and/ or enamel, and fusion of a permanent tooth with a supernumerary accounts for fewer than 0.1% of cases, usually involving anterior maxillary teeth. Periapical radiographs are routinely used for endodontic diagnosis and preoperative planning, for transoperative guidance and for postoperative follow-up. However, the two-dimensional nature of this imaging technique can impose limitations on the ability to determine the anatomy of root canals in teeth with anatomical variations. The objective of this case report is to describe a rare case of fusion of a distomolar with a third molar, assessed using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT)...