Journal of Forensic Dental Sciences

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Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of cheiloscopy (the study of lip prints) and dermatoglyphics (the study of fingerprints) in screening diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: The study sample comprised 100 individuals in the age group of 17-60 years, of which fifty were diabetics and fifty controls who reported to the Department of Oral Medicine, Thai Moogambigai Dental College and Hospital. Lip prints were collected and categorized based on the Suzuki and Tsuchihashi system...

Background: Sex determination by linear measurements of the bones is widely used because of the several kinds of death in which the corpses can be damaged. Aim: The aim of this study was to establish a logit for sexual dimorphism through measurements of the atlas vertebra. Settings and Design: The principle sample was composed of 191 skeletons belonging to the Forensic Physical Anthropology Laboratory Prof. Eduardo Daruge. However, first, a calibration with other 25 skeletons was carried out...

Background/Aim: The aim of this pilot study was to perform morphometric analysis of the foramen magnum (FM) using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods: This study included CBCT images of 120 individuals (60 males and 60 females). The sagittal and transverse diameters and circumference of the FM were measured. The data were statistically analyzed with Chi-square and t -tests to assess the level of significance for sex and age. Results: The means of its sagittal and transverse diameters and also circumference were higher in males than in females...

Context: DNA methylation (DNAm) age can be used to evaluate the chronological age of individuals often called "epigenetic age." In this study, buccal scrape samples were used for the determination of epigenetic age. Aims: To examine if epigenetic age could be determined using neuronal pentraxin 2 (NPTX2) gene in buccal cells. Setting and Design: This cohort study was designed to validate the use of buccal cells for epigenetic age estimation...

Background: Age estimation is crucial in the identification of juveniles in conflicts with law, survivor of sexual assault, sportsperson, and civil cases. Aims: To estimate and compare the age (9-18 years) by dental and skeletal maturity in the Mumbai region. Settings and Design: This was a cross-sectional study. Materials and Methods: A total of 70 cases from 9 to 18 years of age were studied in 1 year in the urban population of the Mumbai region...

Introduction: Panoramic X-ray is an imagiological examination produced by a technique that exhibits images of the facial structure present in the upper and lower dental arches, as well as the support structures in the diagnosis of problems that require a broad view of the oral-maxillofacial complex, such as the assessment of traumatisms, extensive lesions, dental development, tooth retention, and growth anomalies. Many morphological and anatomical changes are exhibited by the mandible with the advancement of age and changes in gender, as well as dentoalveolar condition of the patient, and it can be assessed with the help of such radiograph, thus playing an important role in personal identification in forensic dentistry...

Introduction: Osteoporosis is a silent, progressive, and chronic disease affecting bones of the adults, especially postmenopausal women. Its effect on mandibular bone quality has also been described by some authors in men inferring that gender and age are factors that may influence bone mineral density (BMD) and prognosis. The panoramic radiograph is used widely for the early detection of osteoporosis. The present study was undertaken to evaluate whether the panoramic mandibular index (PMI) is useful for BMD and sexual dimorphism...

Introduction: Intercuspation of teeth depends on position of teeth and jaws. Bite mark is the resultant of the intercuspation of teeth produced by an individual. Aims and Objective: Comparative evaluation of bite marks in Angle's Class I, II, and III sagittal occlusion. Materials and Methods: Three groups as per Angle's classification-Class I, Class II, and Class III relation were taken. Each group comprised 30 samples each. The dental casts were scanned to create digital images...

Background and Aims: The assessment of age is useful in forensic medicine and forensic odontology and in treatment planning in various branch of dentistry. The aim of study is comparative evaluation and assessment of applicability of Demirjian's method, Willem's method of dental age (DA) estimation, and Maria de Paula Caldas's method of skeletal age estimation for children aged 9-16 years. Materials and Methods: A total of 140 individuals (70 females and 70 males) between the age group of 9-16 years were enrolled...

The term "forensic science" involves forensic (or forensis , in Latin), which means a public discussion or debate. In a more modern context, however, forensic applies to courts or the judicial system. Combine that with science, and forensic science means applying scientific methods and processes to solving crimes. People can be identified by their fingerprints, foot creases, and from traces of their DNA from blood, skin, hair, saliva, and semen by DNA analysis. However, in situations where these records are unavailable or unusable due to the nature of the disaster, the dental records and aids prove to be useful for victim identification...

Aim: Tori are nonneoplastic self-limiting, bony exostosis that are commonly called torus palatinus (TP) when seen on the hard palate and termed torus mandibularis (TM) when seen on the lingual surface of the mandible. These lesions have long been known to anthropologists and have mostly been identified incidentally during routine dental examinations. The prevalence of tori varies in different populations from 0.0% to 66% for TP and between 0.1% and 63.4% for TM. The exact etiology is still unclear, but the most accepted theory today is 30% attributed to genetics and 70% to environmental factors...

Introduction: In the practice of dentistry, one of the most common dental anomalies encountered is the congenitally missing teeth (CMT) with dierent prevalence in each region. CMT are those that fail to erupt in the oral cavity and remain invisible in radiographs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of congenitally missing second premolar teeth in the Dravidian population that can be used in forensic research. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, a total of 4600 panoramic radiographs of Dravidian children (2580 girls and 2020 boys) with an age group of 9-17 years were viewed for congenitally missing second premolar teeth...

Context: This study was designed to characterize the role of the dental pulp (DP) in age estimation. Aim: The analysis of age-related quantifiable changes in DP components such as odontoblasts, collagen fibers, and blood vessels. Subjects and Methods: One hundred and twenty extracted teeth from six age groups (20-30 years, 31-40 years, 41-50 years, 51-60 years, 61-70 years, and 71-80 years) were subjected to decalcification and routine histopathological processing followed by Hematoxylin and Eosin and Picrosirius Red staining...

Background: Polygraph or lie detection test has been used since early 90s as an effective method in forensic investigations. However, polygraph does not have a stand-alone value in legal forums. Any novel scientific addition can strengthen the credibility of the polygraph. Aim: This study aims to determine whether the deception could be detected with the help of polygraph where electromyography (EMG) readings of the masseter muscle, along with electrocardiography and galvanic skin response, were considered...

Context: Predicting one's attainment of age of majority is a controversial issue and considered as important aspect in medicolegal cases. In India, individuals older than 18 years of age have full capacity regarding civil conduct and are tried as adults for criminal charges. Aims and Objective: To compare the accuracy of Olze et al. , stages of radiographic visibility of root pulp, and Cameriere's third molar maturity index ( I 3M < 0.08) to estimate the age of majority...

Aim: The aim of the present study is to assess the relationship between chronological age (CA) and the measurement of the open apices in teeth and also assess the accuracy of Cameriere methods on dental age (DA) estimation in the South Indian population. Subjects and Methods: A sample of 200 orthopantomographs of children aged between 10 and 15 years were collected. The seven left permanent mandibular teeth were evaluated with Cameriere method. Results: Regression analysis was carried out which derived the following linear regression formula: Age = 14...

Background: Human stature and sex determination are significant data that can and should be used in criminal profiling in the human identification processes. Teeth are widely used in investigations because of their properties of resistance and uniqueness. Aims: The present study aimed to verify, by means of dental anthropometry, the correlation of these with the stature and sex. Materials and Methods: Measurements of linear (mid distal and incisor cervical) dental measurements were performed on the upper right teeth of Brazilians, aged between 18 and 30 years, being 100 male and 100 female participants...

The importance and the application of dental science and forensic odontology in the legal system are gradually increasing in India. In a long-term vision, there is a need for a specialized forensic training curriculum not only for the undergraduate and postgraduate dental students but also for the experienced dental surgeons. Dental experts opinion is sought most commonly in forensic casework of human identification, age estimation, and sexual assault cases with patterned injury, by the legal and forensic authorities...

Age estimation is one of the essential factors in human identification. Teeth bestowed with features such as hardness and resilience to external factors such as chemicals, putrefaction, and fire explosions serve as a durable source in age estimation. Concurrently, they present with peculiar and comparable features of age-associated regressive changes along with dental procedures, which make them a mirror reflection of age changes from cradle to the grave of an individual. Age estimation in adults poses an enigma to the forensic dentists because as the age advances, the dentitions get influenced by numerous exogenous and endogenous factors which may lead to discrepancies between dental age and chronologic age...