The estimation of age at time of death is often an important step in the identification of human remains. If this age can be accurately estimated, it will significantly narrow the field of possible identities that will have to be compared to the remains in order to establish a positive identification. Some of the more accurate methods of age estimation, in the juvenile and younger adult, have been based on the assessment of the degree of dental development as it relates to chronological age. The purpose of this current study was to test the applicability of one such system, the Demirjian system, to a Sydney sample population, and to develop and test age prediction models using a large sample of Sydney children (1624 girls, 1637 boys). The use of the Demirjian standards resulted in consistent overestimates of chronological age in children under the age of 14 years by as much as a mean of 0.97 years, and underestimates of chronological age in children over 14 years by as much as a mean of 2.18 years in 16 year-old females. Of the alternative predictive models derived from the Sydney sample, those that provided the most accurate age estimates are applicable for the age ranges 2-14 years, with a coefficient of determination value of R-square=0.94 and a 95% confidence interval of �1.8 years. The Sydney based standards provided significantly different and more accurate estimates of age for that sample when compared to the published standards of Demirjian.

The estimation of age at time of death is often an important step in the identification of human remains. If this age can be accurately estimated, it will significantly narrow the field of possible identities that will have to be compared to the remains in order to establish a positive identification. Some of the more accurate methods of age estimation, in the juvenile and younger adult, have been based on the assessment of the degree of dental development as it relates to chronological age. The purpose of this current study was to test the applicability of one such system, the Demirjian system, to a Sydney sample population, and to develop and test age prediction models using a large sample of Sydney children (1624 girls, 1637 boys). The use of the Demirjian standards resulted in consistent overestimates of chronological age in children under the age of 14 years by as much as a mean of 0.97 years, and underestimates of chronological age in children over 14 years by as much as a mean of 2.18 years in 16 year-old females. Of the alternative predictive models derived from the Sydney sample, those that provided the most accurate age estimates are applicable for the age ranges 2-14 years, with a coefficient of determination value of R-square=0.94 and a 95% confidence interval of �1.8 years. The Sydney based standards provided significantly different and more accurate estimates of age for that sample when compared to the published standards of Demirjian.

CSI at UBC: How David Sweet is using dental forensics to pit modern science against criminals.

Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Identification of the victims of a mass fatality incident is considered a basic human right.Forensic odontology frequently makes a significant contribution to the identification process following major disasters, and is considered a primary identifier in the Interpol Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) Guidelines. Many authors have indicated that to achieve identification with dignity and respect requires practical guidelines and standard operating procedures. No internationally accepted guidelines currently exist for the practice of forensic odontology in DVI situations. This report documents the development of a comprehensive practice guide for use by Australian forensic odontologists in a mass fatality incident. To understand the value of this document in a professional context the project also looked at the development and application of forensic odontology in multiple fatality incidents in Australia. This evolution has seen forensic odontology grow from a spasmodically used ad-hoc service to the consistent professional service delivered by practitioners today. The research question addressed in this project was “Is the Delphi technique is an appropriate tool to assist the Australian Society of Forensic Odontology to develop a set of guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures for Disaster Victim Identification practices”? Thirty one members of the Australian Society of Forensic Odontology and four members of various Australian police services and the private disaster management sector participated in the project. The participants set the level of consensus against which they wished to work and took 4 rounds to reach agreement on the contents of the document. The resultant document, the “Disaster Victim Identification Forensic Odontology Guide” is comprehensive in coverage, meets many of the criteria established to define quality and places the Australian Society of Forensic Odontology at the vanguard of professionalism in the forensic odontology community, and confirms the Delphi technique was an appropriate tool to assist in the development of a set of guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures for Disaster Victim Identification practices.

Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Identification of the victims of a mass fatality incident is considered a basic human right.Forensic odontology frequently makes a significant contribution to the identification process following major disasters, and is considered a primary identifier in the Interpol Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) Guidelines. Many authors have indicated that to achieve identification with dignity and respect requires practical guidelines and standard operating procedures. No internationally accepted guidelines currently exist for the practice of forensic odontology in DVI situations. This report documents the development of a comprehensive practice guide for use by Australian forensic odontologists in a mass fatality incident. To understand the value of this document in a professional context the project also looked at the development and application of forensic odontology in multiple fatality incidents in Australia. This evolution has seen forensic odontology grow from a spasmodically used ad-hoc service to the consistent professional service delivered by practitioners today. The research question addressed in this project was “Is the Delphi technique is an appropriate tool to assist the Australian Society of Forensic Odontology to develop a set of guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures for Disaster Victim Identification practices”? Thirty one members of the Australian Society of Forensic Odontology and four members of various Australian police services and the private disaster management sector participated in the project. The participants set the level of consensus against which they wished to work and took 4 rounds to reach agreement on the contents of the document. The resultant document, the “Disaster Victim Identification Forensic Odontology Guide” is comprehensive in coverage, meets many of the criteria established to define quality and places the Australian Society of Forensic Odontology at the vanguard of professionalism in the forensic odontology community, and confirms the Delphi technique was an appropriate tool to assist in the development of a set of guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures for Disaster Victim Identification practices.

Magister Chirurgiae Dentium (MChD) / There is no data specific to the Qatari population on the incidence of dental anomalies. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of dental anomalies in a Qatari population sample of patients between 6 and 65 years of age and to use the record as a key for human identification in forensic odontology.Records of panoramic radiographs of a Qatari population sample of 457 patients, comprised of (227 females; mean age 16.84 and 230 males; mean age 18.55) were examined to identify all dental anomalies. Dental anomalies were investigated in 4 groups, each group including subdivisions with a total of 15 subdivisions.

RESUMO As marcas de mordidas têm sido relatadas na literatura como elementos periciais fundamentais para a identificação de agressores, vítimas e criminosos. Assim, o papel da Odontologia Legal é cada vez mais importante. O objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar quatro metodologias de levantamento e identificação de marcas de mordidas, além do aprimoramento e aperfeiçoamento das técnicas existentes, analisando as vantagens e desvantagens de cada metodologia aplicada e adequando-as ao tipo de suporte em que a mordida ficou impressa. A amostra foi composta por 50 (cinqüenta) modelos de gesso de alunos da Faculdade de Odontologia da Universidade de São Paulo mediante consentimento livre e esclarecido. Foram utilizadas quatro gomas de mascar, maçãs e barras de chocolate. Através de sorteio, os alimentos foram mordidos pelos participantes sem conhecimento do pesquisador. A avaliação foi feita por meio da comparação entre as metodologias para estudo de marcas de mordidas humanas. Os resultados mostraram que a técnica mais segura e indicada para esse estudo foi a Análise Métrica. De doze alimentos mordidos, foi possível identificar os autores de dez. Em dois casos não foi possível indicar os principais suspeitos, mas excluir quarenta e cinco em um dos casos, e quarenta e seis no outro. De acordo com os dados obtidos, foram elaboradas propostas de protocolos para a análise de impressões dentárias nos três tipos de suportes. Ficou comprovado que a análise de impressões dentárias em alimentos pode ser utilizada como uma prova pericial a mais, facultando a sua incorporação ao conjunto probatório da investigação criminal, com a possibilidade de conferir um grande poder incriminatório ou excludente / ABSTRACT The bite marks has been described in scientific literature like a fundamentals elements of burglars and victims identification. The Forensic Odontology has shown each more contributions in this area of investigation. The aim of this study was to compare four analysis methodologies of bite marks, moreover improvement of the actual techniques, observing advantages, disadvantages and adapting to each kind of support. The sample was composed by fifty stone models of odontology students from Dental Faculty of University of São Paulo. It was used three kinds of food: four apples, chewing gums and chocolate bars. The foods were bitten for volunteers randomly choose without knows of the scientist. The valuation was made through the comparison of methodologies to collect and study of human dental impressions. The results showed that the more secure and indicated technique for these foods was Metric Analysis. From twelve foodstuffs, it was possible to identify ten of then. Two cases it wasn’t possible indicate the main suspects, but exclude fourty-five in one of the cases and fourty-six in the other. Based on the results, it was proposed a protocol to bite marks analysis for the three foodstuffs. It was proved that the study of bite marks in foods can be used like more one investigation proof, faculting your incorporation in the probatory amount of a criminal investigation, with the possibility of confer a significant incriminatory or excludent power.

A identificação humana é algo que vem sendo estudado desde o século XIV e a cada dia vem se aperfeiçoando mais. Desta forma este estudo tem como proposta um método de identificação auxiliar aos já existentes, obtido por meio das rugas palatinas, que são estruturas localizadas na mucosa do palato duro, envolvendo papila incisiva, rafe mediana e rugas palatinas. Este estudo objetivou criar uma metodologia mais simples no uso deste método de identificação, por meio do uso de imagens digitalizadas e programas específicos para tal fim. A amostra foi constituída por 100 modelos e os respectivos prontuários. Inicialmente foram delimitadas as rugas palatinas, a papila incisiva e a rafe mediana com lapiseira 0,1 mm de espessura e grafite tipo HB, nos modelos dos sujeitos da pesquisa. Participaram da pesquisa três avaliadores, para que o estudo fosse cego: o avaliador 1 foi responsável pela seleção dos modelos iniciais; o avaliador 2 fez as cópias em scanner (para criar banco de dados); e o avaliador 3 re-numerou os modelos para que fossem sobrepostos pelo avaliador 2 e na seqüência fosse analisada a coincidência de pontos, para a possível identificação. Os modelos foram digitalizados e analisados por meio do programa Photoshop 7.0.1. Os resultados, encontrados por meio de análise de concordância de pontos não coincidentes, permitiram um percentual de 100 % de acerto na identificação, sendo então possível a identificação de todos os indivíduos por meio da metodologia proposta. A amostra apresentou 85% de pessoas do fenótipo cor da pele branco, 10 % negro, 5 % amarelo, a faixa etária envolveu indivíduos entre 8 e 30 anos de idade. Os resultados encontrados suportam as seguintes conclusões: que é possível realizar a identificação humana por meio das rugas palatinas, desde que haja um banco de dados prévio; as imagens podem ser arquivadas em CD-ROM, portanto, diminuindo o espaço utilizado para armazenamento dos dados pessoais de cada indivíduo; é um método de identificação seguro, por permitir análise relacionando 5 critérios, o que excluiu as chances de erros, pois nenhum modelo foi coincidente em nenhum ponto com outro, que não com o próprio. / The identification human being is something that comes being studied since century XIV and to each day it comes if perfecting more. In such a way this study a method of identification auxiliary to already the existing ones has as proposal, gotten by means of palatal rugae, that are structures located in the mucosa of the hard palate, involving papila incisive, rafe medium and palatal rugae. Having as objective to create a simpler methodology in the use of this method of identification, through the use of digitalized images and specific programs for such end. The sample was constituted by 100 models and respective handbooks. Initially they had been delimited palatal rugae, papila incisive and rafe medium with pencil 0.1 mm of thickness and graphite type HB, in the models of the citizens of the research. Three appraisers had participated of the research, so that the study he was blind: appraiser 1 was responsible for the election of the initial models; appraiser 2 made the copies in scanner (to reate data base); e appraiser 3 re-numbered the models so that they were overlapped by appraiser 2 and in the sequence the coincidence of points was analyzed, for the possible identification. The models had been digitalized and analyzed by means of the program Photoshop 7.0.1. The results, found by means of analysis of agreement of not coincident points, had allowed to a percentage of 100% of rightness in the identification, being possible the identification of all the individuals by means of the methodology proposal. The sample presented 85% of people of color of the white skin, 10% black, 5% yellow, the aged band involved individuals between 8 and 30 years of age. The joined results support the following conclusions: that she is possible to carry through the identification human being by means of palatal rugae, since that has a previous data base; the images can be filed in CD-ROM, therefore, decreased the space used for storage of the personal datas of each individual; it is a safe method of identification, for allowing to analysis relating 5 criteria, what it excluded the possibilities of errors, therefore no model was coincident in no point with another one, that not with the proper one.

A participação da odontologia legal está cada vez mais presente nos processos de identificação humana, seja nos casos de desastres em massa ou quando o único material disponível para análise são os dentes ou fragmentos de ossos da mandíbula ou da maxila. Após análise e pesquisa da literatura dos programas destinados à área de odontologia legal, foi confeccionada cinco tipos de fichas para a coleta de dados e desenvolvido um programa de computador nacional específico para a área de odontologia legal com o nome de sistema computadorizado de identificação odonto-legal (SOL). Inicialmente o programa pode ser utilizado na área criminal para os casos de: identificação humana em desastre de massa, identificação de pessoa desaparecida e análise das marcas de mordida. Para o projeto e desenvolvimento desse programa utilizou-se os programas Windows XP, Access 2003 e Visual Basic 6 da Microsoft. A plataforma apresenta-se de forma simples e não necessita de programas auxiliares de edição de texto ou imagens, nem a necessidade de conhecimentos avançados em informática do usuário. A partir da ocorrência e do cadastro dos registros, o programa realiza automaticamente uma filtragem dos dados e exibe uma lista com prováveis vítimas, de acordo com os dados coincidentes, para que o perito possa realizar o processo de identificação. Estão disponíveis para auxiliar o trabalho do perito, alguns recursos de edição e manipulação de imagem. Em que é possível alterar a angulação, o contraste, a Roberto Matsuzaki 8 escala, a transparência e negativo. O recurso de transparência possibilita a sobreposição de imagens para análise de marcas de mordidas e de estruturas anatômicas, e o recurso negativo auxilia na análise das radiografias. Para os testes e correções do programa foi realizada a simulação de um acidente com 25 vítimas hipotéticas com todos os dados dentários ante-mortem e 25 indivíduos post-mortem com algum desses eventos hipotéticos. O programa permitiu a identificação de todos os indivíduos e foi possível verificar a sua eficácia e aplicabilidade nos tipos de ocorrência a que foi proposto. / The participation of Forensic Dentistry is more and more present in human identification process, not only in mass disaster situation but also in cases when the only materials available for analysis are teeth or jawbones fragments. After the analysis and research of the programs literatures for forensic Dentistry area, five different forms was made for data collecting and a specific computer program was developed for Brazilian Forensic Dentistry area (computer system for identification forensic dentistry). Initially the program could be use in criminal area for case of: human identification in mass disaster, missing person identification and bites marks analysis. This program was designed and developed using Windows XP, Access 2003 and Visual Basic 6 ? Windows Software. The platform is simple and auxiliary text or image edition programs are not necessary, even advanced knowledge in computer program. From the event and the register data, the program automatically searches the data and display a list of probably victims, according to the coincident data, so the expert could perform the identification process. Some image edition and manipulation resources are available to assist the experts in their work, alteration in the angle, contrast, scale, transparence which permits superposing of images over bites marks and anatomical structures and invert that helps in radiography analysis. The program was tested and corrected through an accident simulation of 25 hypothetic victims with all ante-mortem dental data and 25 post-mortem subjects with Roberto Matsuzaki 10 some of the hypothetic events. The program allowed the identification of all of subjects and also permits to verify the program efficacy and applicability on the different events proposed.

No estudo das marcas de mordidas, os materiais biológicos relacionados à Odontologia, como o dente e saliva, são analisados por meio de evidências físicas (análise métrica e/ou emparelhamento físico) e evidências biológicas (análise de DNA). A partir de ambos os métodos pode-se estabelecer a identidade de um indivíduo, podendo assim, nas investigações forenses, apontar, ou mesmo identificar, um suspeito em uma cena de crime. O presente trabalho aplicou quatro métodos de análise física nas marcas de mordida produzidas em queijos e chocolates, bem como obter a recuperação de DNA, extraídos da saliva destes alimentos mordidos e de garrafas de água consumidas. Para tal, 20 participantes (10 do sexo masculino e 10 do sexo feminino) morderam cinco pedaços de queijo, cinco pedaços de chocolate e beberam em cinco garrafas de água, totalizando 15 amostras para cada um. As amostras produzidas foram armazenadas e analisadas em diferentes intervalos de temperatura (ambiente e geladeira) e tempo (imediato, três dias e sete dias). Na análise física, os métodos aplicados foram: análise métrica utilizando um paquímetro digital (Digital Caliper, Cixi Xinzheng Trade Co., Ltd., Zhejiang, China); análise métrica utilizando o software ImageJ (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland); sobreposição manual; e a sobreposição digital por meio do software Adobe Photoshop (Adobe Systems, Inc., Mountain View,California, USA). Na análise biológica foram realizadas as seguintes etapas do exame de DNA: coleta da saliva pela técnica de duplo swab, extração do DNA utilizando Kit QIAamp (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany), quantificação do DNA recuperado através do equipamento espectofotômetro Nanodrop (Thermo Scientific™, Wilmington, DE, USA), amplificação dos marcadores utilizando o Kit de identificação humana AmpFLSTR Identifiler PCR Amplification (Applied Biosystems®, Carlsbad, CA, EUA) e a eletroforese em gel de agarose. De acordo com os resultados encontrados, não houve diferença significativa entre os dois métodos de análise métrica. Na análise de emparelhamento físico, o método manual obteve o maior número de identificados, com 58% para ambos os sexos, enquanto o método Adobe Photoshop apenas 32% das amostras foram identificadas para o sexo feminino e 44% no sexo masculino. O valor do índice de concordância intraobservador foi classificado como substancial para os métodos manuais em ambos os sexos e para o método Adobe Photoshop para o sexo masculino; e como moderado para o método Adobe Photoshop para o sexo feminino. Nas evidências biológicas, as amostras de DNA coletadas a partir da saliva depositada em queijos e chocolates mordidos e garrafas de água bebidas tiveram valores de concentração variando entre 28,52 ± 14,00 a 8,99 ± 2,20 ng/μl, e estas foram suficientes para amplificação. Com isso, conclui-se que amostras de águas, queijos e chocolates nas condições estudadas, que simularam alimentos mordidos e bebidas consumidas encontrados em cenas de crime ou armazenadas em geladeiras a espera da análise pericial, podem ser utilizadas nas investigações de identificação em marcas de mordida tanto para métodos de evidências físicas quanto para métodos de evidências biológicas. / In the study of bite marks, the biological materials related to dentistry, such as teeth and saliva, are analyzed by means of physical evidence (metric analysis and / or physical pairing) and biological evidence (DNA analysis). From both methods can establish the identity of an individual, thus allowing, in forensic investigations, point, or even identify a suspect in a crime scene. This study aimed to apply four methods of physical analysis in bite marks produced in cheeses and chocolates, as well as obtain recovery the DNA extracted from the saliva of bitten food and bottled water consumed. The sample was comprised of 20 volunteers, 10 males and 10 females. Each volunteer was instructed to bite five pieces of cheese, five pieces of chocolate and drink five bottles of water, producing 15 samples of each from the 20 participants. The produced samples were stored and analyzed in different temperature ranges - temperature (25°C) and refrigerator (4-8°C), and time (immediately, three days, seven days). The methods used were: metric analysis by using a digital caliper, digital metric analysis using ImageJ software (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland); manual overlay of the plaster model of the dental arches versus plaster model of chewed food, and overlapping images using Adobe Photoshop software (Adobe Systems, Inc., Mountain View,California, USA). In biological testing, saliva collecting was done using the double swab technique, DNA extraction according to the extraction protocol of the QIAamp kit (Qiagen®, Hilden, Germany), quantification of recovered DNA using equipment Nanodrop spectrophotometer (Thermo Scientific™, Wilmington, DE, USA); amplification of the markers was performed by human identification kit Identifiler PCR Amplification AmpFLSTR (Applied Biosystems®, Carlsbad, CA, EUA) and agarose gel electrophoresis. According to the results, there was no significant difference between the two methods of metric analysis. In the physical pairing analysis, the manual method had the highest number of identified subjects with 58% for both sexes while with the Adobe Photoshop method only 32% of the samples were identified for females and 44 % males. The index value for intraobserver agreement was rated substantial for manual methods in both sexes and for Adobe Photoshop method for males; and as moderate for Adobe Photoshop method for females.In biological evidence, samples of DNA from saliva deposited in cheese and bitten chocolate, beverage and water bottles had concentration values ranging from 28,52 ± 14,00 a 8,99 ± 2,20 ng/μl, and these were sufficient for amplification. Thus, it was concluded that samples of water, cheeses and chocolates under the conditions studied, simulating bitten foods and beverages found at crime scenes or stored in refrigerators waiting for the forensic analysis can be used for investigations in identifying bite marks using both physical methods evidence as to biological method evidence.