Identifying murder victims with endodontic radiographs
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4103/0975-1475.195112Keywords:
Dental radiography, endodontics, forensic dentistry, human identificationAbstract
Endodontics is a special branch of dentistry constantly guided by imaging examinations. From a forensic scope, endodontics plays a valuable role providing solid antemortem (AM) radiographic evidence for comparison with postmortem findings in human identifications. This study illustrates the interface between endodontics and forensic odontology describing three cases of human identification based on radiographic endodontic records. From 2009 to 2012, three unknown male victims of murder were examined in a local Brazilian medico-legal institute to retrieve identity and potential cause of death. Specifically, when asked for AM data, a relative of the three victims provided periapical radiographs of endodontic treatments. Based on that, forensic dentists reproduced the same imaging acquisition techniques obtaining similar periapical radiographs, enabling a comparative dental identification. All the victims were positively identified based on patterns of dental morphology and treatment intervention. This study draws the attention of general and forensic dentists highlight the importance of properly recording dental treatments and searching for evidence in AM endodontic data, respectively.Downloads
Metrics
References
Silva RF, Nunes FG, Faria Neto JC, Rege IC, Junior ED. Forensic importance of panoramic radiographs for human identification. Rev Gaucha Odontol 2012;60:527‑31.
Silva RF, Franco A, Dias PE, Gonçalves AS, Paranhos LR. Interrelationship between forensic radiology and forensic odontology –A case report of identified skeletal remains. J Forensic Radiol Imaging 2013;1:201‑6.
Forrest AS, Wu HY. Endodontic imaging as an aid to forensic personal identification. Aust Endod J 2010;36:87‑94.
Silva RF, Franco A, Picoli FF, Nunes FG, Estrela C. Dental identification through endodontic radiographic records: A case report. Acta Stomatol Croat 2014;48:147-50.
Spyropoulos ND, Liakakoy P. The use of periapical x-rays in the identification of a corpse. Hell Stomatol Chron 1990;34:151‑6.
Weisman MI. Endodontics – A key to identification in forensic dentistry: Report of a case. Aust Endod J 1996;22:9‑12.
Savio C, Merlati G, Danesino P, Fassina G, Menghini P. Radiographic evaluation of teeth subjected to high temperatures: Experimental study to aid identification processes. Forensic Sci Int 2006;158:108‑16.
Bonavilla JD, Bush MA, Bush PJ, Pantera EA. Identification of incinerated root canal filling materials after exposure to high heat incineration. J Forensic Sci 2008;53:412-8.
Kavitha B, Einstein A, Sivapathasundharam B, Saraswathi TR. Limitations in forensic odontology. J Forensic Dent Sci 2009;1:8-10.
Charangowda BK. Dental records: An overview. J Forensic Dent Sci 2010;2:5-10.
Brazilian Federal Council of Dentistry. Brazilian Code of Dental Ethics. Rio de Janeiro: CFO-Brazil; 2012.
Paranhos LR, de Magalhães MP, Francio J, Terada HH, Rosário HD, da Silva RF. Time of guard of orthodontic records versus legal time for their prescription. Dental Press J Orthod 2013;18:113-7.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2016 Journal of Forensic Dental Sciences
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
CC-BY allows for unrestricted reuse of content, subject only to the requirement that the source work is appropriately attributed.