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The challenges and effects of globalisation on forensic dentistry
Abstract
This paper deals with the challenges faced by forensic dentists in a world in which globalisation has become a reality. People travelling across the globe on a daily basis become victims of violent crime, terrorist attacks, human displacement, natural and man made disasters. This has forced colleagues in the profession to participate in joint operations exposing inadequacies which need urgent attention. Forensic dentists practise in isolation creating their own rules and regulations oblivious to the greater global community. No international protocols exist for the many procedures practised by the profession. Possible solutions to the complex problems are offered. These include co-operation with colleagues around the globe while striving for the highest levels of quality control, standardisation, reliability, impartiality, reproducibility and ethical accountability.
... The IOFOS admits that this dynamic requires the permanent updating of scientific evidence, "taking into account the relevant scientific publications" [30]. FO research and publication initiatives need global encouragement, approval, and collaboration [17,35]; however, means and processes are highly dependent on local structures, resources, policies, and financing, which vary widely among countries [31,35]. ...
... The IOFOS admits that this dynamic requires the permanent updating of scientific evidence, "taking into account the relevant scientific publications" [30]. FO research and publication initiatives need global encouragement, approval, and collaboration [17,35]; however, means and processes are highly dependent on local structures, resources, policies, and financing, which vary widely among countries [31,35]. ...
... However, there are risks implicit in these individual efforts when these leaderships get "derailed": "the cult of self" [56], or mentoring that does not form new leaders [57], can lead to a leadership that is unsustainable over time, to exhaustion due to lack of synergy, and finally to a line of research absolutely dependent on the capacities and viability of the researcher who leads it. Personal efforts are absolutely laudable and necessary as an engine for research, but collaborative networks should surpass "individuals practising in isolation" [35]. Likewise, the increasing number of names appearing in scientific publications has been reported as a result of intense pressure to publish in the academic community due to fierce competition for funding [23]. ...
Dental age estimation (DAE) is one of the most reliable and useful scientific methods employed by forensic odontology (FO) for human identification. In 2009, the US National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report highlighted the need to deepen research in many disciplines, among which FO received strong criticism for specific expertise. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview in order to systematically map the latest original research done in FO, as well as identify DAE within this field. A systematic search was performed from 2014 to 2019. In total, 644 studies were identified for qualitative analysis: DAE was the most studied topic (41.30%). Asia was the most productive continent with 58.27% of the global production on DAE; India was the most productive Asian country, with 32.33% and 55.48% of global and Asian production, respectively. The University of Macerata (Italy), KU Leuven (Belgium), University of Split (Croatia), and University of São Paulo (Brazil) led DAE research. Authors from leading countries on DAE research demonstrated great individual productivity, which is evidence of their scientific efforts, but also possible risks if the continuity of this line of research depends on them. Although FO has significantly focused its research on DAE, the absence of publications on controversial topics but necessary for research according to the NAS report shows the possible lack of interest of authors or journals to address them.
... Uno de los grandes desafíos de las Ciencias Forenses es lograr la unificación de criterios, respetando protocolos establecidos internacionalmente, fomentando filosofías globalizadoras, necesarias para propender al trabajo multidisciplinario, buscando arribar a la resolución del suceso investigado. En ese contexto, la Odontología Legal todavía se halla en la búsqueda de sistematizar una Historia Clínica que contenga una nomenclatura dentaria que permita que el odontograma sea relevado, transmitido e interpretado en forma universal [14,15]. Sin duda que modificar sistemas de trabajo y, sobre todo, actitudes y costumbres de los odontólogos forenses en el sentido de crear muchas veces reglas propias y trabajar aisladamente, constituyen situaciones muy complicadas de revertir; no obstante, es menester insistir en este aspecto toda vez que a raíz de la globalización o internacionalización, las personas viajan por todo el mundo, siendo víctimas de accidentes de tránsito, atentados terroristas y catástrofes naturales, tornándose la Sin embargo, para lograr una identificación por la vía odontológica, es requisito necesario tener acceso a registros AM, y es aquí donde pueden comenzar las dificultades para el odontólogo forense. ...
... La búsqueda de acuerdos a niveles regionales primero, para el uso de un tipo único de ficha odontológica y para la implementación de uno de estos sistemas, se hace necesaria para enfrentar en forma rápida, eficiente y coordinada los procesos asociados a la identificación de fallecidos. En opinión de este autor, el uso de las fichas de IN- tarea del perito odontólogo imprescindible, como integrante de un equipo IVC (Identificación de Víctimas de Catástrofes) [6,14]. Para que esa tarea tan trascendente sea ejecutada con eficacia y eficiencia es fundamental coordinar esfuerzos y, sobre todo, unificar el lenguaje científico, tal como llamó la atención sobre este aspecto INTERPOL en el documento publicado en 2006 sobre la respuesta del equipo de identificación de víctimas sobre el Maremoto del Sudeste Asiático entre diciembre de 2004 y enero de 2006: "los procedimientos odontológicos han puesto de manifiesto las significativas diferencias entre los procesos y técnicas de odontogramas en todo el mundo respecto a lo que se consideraba como una metodología internacional coherente entre los dentistas..." [16]. ...
La identificación fehaciente se sustenta en el cotejo de informaciones que deben reunir indispensables características para permitir esas comparaciones. Elementos tales como el tipo de diseños esquemático, la nomenclatura dentaria, el lenguaje simbólico y el mismo contenido que debe poseer la Ficha Odontológica juegan papeles fundamentales para potenciar la calidad de la identificación odontológica. Se presenta un reporte de las conferencias desarrolladas por panelistas respecto de la Ficha Odontológica para una identificación forense, en la Mesa de Discusión del XXXIII Congreso Internacional de AMFRA, el 16 de Mayo de 2012 en la ciudad de Carlos Paz, Argentina, y se discuten los tópicos abordados a manera de cierre y conclusiones en el mencionado evento.
... Empero, todavía en varios países se confeccionan las cartas dentales con diferente modelo e incluso los procedimientos de cotejo de documentación AM y PM se ejecutan de distinta forma. Según Bernitz (2009) [30] : "Los odontólogos forenses que actúan aisladamente, crean sus propias reglas olvidando con ello a la comunidad global…". Y agrega: "… (Una posible solución) incluye la cooperación con colegas en todo el mundo esforzándose por llegar a los más altos niveles de control de calidad, estandarización, fiabilidad, imparcialidad, reproducibilidad y responsabilidad ética". ...
... Empero, todavía en varios países se confeccionan las cartas dentales con diferente modelo e incluso los procedimientos de cotejo de documentación AM y PM se ejecutan de distinta forma. Según Bernitz (2009) [30] : "Los odontólogos forenses que actúan aisladamente, crean sus propias reglas olvidando con ello a la comunidad global…". Y agrega: "… (Una posible solución) incluye la cooperación con colegas en todo el mundo esforzándose por llegar a los más altos niveles de control de calidad, estandarización, fiabilidad, imparcialidad, reproducibilidad y responsabilidad ética". ...
A disaster is an unexpected event that causes death or wounds to a high number of persons and the condition of the bodies originates serious difficulties for the identification. The promotion of teams has been recommended for these procedures (DVI), always under protocols and standards recognized internationally. Since the teeth and its restorations can resist highly unfavorable conditions, the Forensic Odontology has played a role key in the identi-fication of great number of victims. Though there are several different protocols for these cases, those of Interpol have turned out to be efficient on having demonstrated the need of expert and qualified odontologists integrating the DVI teams. Even if different trends and opinions have been descri-bed in the matter, it is clear that singular situations have promoted the problems of slanted conducts in the application of the odontolgy in the processes of identification. We present a review of some catastrophes from the odontologic forensic perspective and we propose the adhesion to a constant educa-tion, to the recognized internationally standards and to the adoption of global philosophies that it keep attentive to the requirements of the function that involve the expert odontologist.
... The Innocence Project ha impulsado su movimiento en no menos de siete países, y ha expandido sus fronteras bajo el nombre de The Innocence Network (www.innocencenetwork.org). Bernitz (2009) ha sido explícito al referir que " necesitamos cooperar con nuestros colegas alrededor del mundo esforzándonos para obtener los niveles más altos en nuestros estándares y calidad " . Por desgracia, la literatura de habla hispana escasamente aporta investigación o reportes de sus casos (Reilly, 2012; Güerri Ripol & Lucena Romero, 1995). ...
... sistemas jurídicos y periciales pueden exhibir las mismas debilidades (Pretty & Bowers; Pretty & Sweet, 2010), tal y como lo certifican los casos presentados en esta revisión. The Innocence Project ha impulsado su movimiento en no menos de siete países, y ha expandido sus fronteras bajo el nombre de The Innocence Network (www.innocencenetwork.org). Bernitz (2009) ha sido explícito al referir que " necesitamos cooperar con nuestros colegas alrededor del mundo esforzándonos para obtener los niveles más altos en nuestros estándares y calidad " . Por desgracia, la literatura de habla hispana escasamente aporta investigación o reportes de sus casos (Reilly, 2012; Güerri Ripol & Lucena Romero, 1995). ...
Entre las pericias de identificación odontológica forense, los análisis de huellas de mordedura han representado un tópico actual, relevante y controvertido pues la unicidad de la dentición, la confiabilidad de la piel como soporte y sus técnicas de análisis, han visto un fuerte cuestionamiento a partir de una relevante casuística de condenas injustas. Mientras la literatura especializada y más actual ofrece una permanente revisión sobre protocolos y normas para la cualificación de pericias y peritos, la literatura de habla hispana no sostiene un ritmo similar, con una escasa o nula actualización de contenidos adecuados en procedimientos, investigación o reportes de casos. Dado que estos análisis han sufrido cambios absolutos de base, y que una conveniente actualización al habla hispana permitiría la adaptación, modificación o reemplazo de sus postulados axiológicos, se presenta una revisión cronológica sobre casos y tópicos de inferencia en el análisis de huellas de mordeduras como evidencia jurídica, y se proponen y discuten nuevos postulados epistemológicos para el abordaje forense de este tipo de evidencias.
... Son biológicamente estables, y contienen información respecto de eventos fisiológicos y patológicos de la vida del individuo, que permanecen como marcadores dentro de sus estructuras. 1 Cualquier tratamiento realizado por un odontólogo, ya sea una obturación o una restauración protésica, modifica la dentición de un individuo, confiriéndole caracteres propios y muchas veces irrepetibles. De tales modificaciones terapéuticas el odontólogo forense tratará de capitalizar información que permita establecer la identificación indubitable de un cuerpo desconocido. ...
El proceso para establecer una identificación odontológica inequívoca se sustenta en la recuperación de la mayor cantidad posible de información post mortem, y su posterior cotejo con aquellos registros ante mortem de la víctima. Los dientes son tejidos del cuerpo humano con una elevada resistencia en su estructura, lo que les permite tolerar el embate de los efectos ambientales como el fuego, la desecación, la descomposición o la inmersión prolongada. En la mayoría de los desastres naturales, y también en los provocados por el hombre, los registros odontológicos pueden contribuir para identificar cuerpos que sería irreconocibles aplicando metodologías tradicionales. En cadáveres quemados o carbonizados, resulta imperativo conservar la evidencia odontológica recuperada, para evitar que su manipulación pueda desvirtuarla e incluso destruirla; por eso se suele fijar y estabilizar antes de ser transportada. Los recursos imagenológicos constituyen una sólida estrategia de perennización de evidencia, los cuales pueden ser complementados por fotografías y toma de impresiones. El presente artículo revisa varios estudios sobre restos dentales, materiales de obturación y aparatos protésicos quemados o carbonizados, haciendo énfasis sobre su importancia en el proceso de identificación humana. Palabras clave: Cuerpos carbonizados, diente, identificación humana, materiales de obturación, odontología forense, restauraciones protésicas.
... It is more likely that age estimation and identification will continue to be the most common topics, but more research face the challenge of globalization and it becomes necessary for forensic odontologists to cooperate and abolish practicing in isolation. [5] The research could go a step further and benefit by the use of advances and results from other scientific fields. DNA technology, computer innovations, and psychology tests on the performance of human observers could be applied in the future forensic odontology projects concerning identification, age estimation, and bite marks. ...
... 19 Standardising forensic teaching is needed for better forensic dental practice in post-disasters. 20 As no community is exempt from disasters, colleges of dentistry in Saudi Arabia should take part in the globalisation of forensic dentistry education and consider including forensic dentistry courses in the curriculum. ...
Medico-legal tasks are not exclusive to forensic medical experts –any physician may face medico-legal issues in his career. Hence, the practice of medicine requires education in legal issues. In Saudi Arabia, there are 30 universities with medical colleges, but we do not know how they teach undergraduate forensic medicine and medico-legal issues. The aim of this study was to discover undergraduate training courses in forensic medicine in Saudi universities. We conducted a cross-sectional study involving all colleges of medicine in Saudi Arabia. A structured, self-administered questionnaire containing 13 items relating to the undergraduate forensic medicine course was distributed. Out of a total of 30 universities, 27 universities responded. Of these 27 universities, 16 (59.26%) teach forensic medicine to undergraduate medical students, and 11 (40.74%) do not teach forensic medicine in their undergraduate curriculum. Of the 27 universities that responded, none has a department of forensic medicine. Eleven universities that do not teach forensic medicine have no forensic medicine unit/division or faculty at all. Forensic medicine belongs to the pathology department in 11 universities, while it belongs to different departments in five universities. There is variation in teaching methods, years where the course is taught and length of the course. Practical and morgue visits take place in 7/16 (43.8%) universities, while 9/16 (56.3%) universities only teach the theoretical aspects of forensic medicine. All 16 universities teach forensic medicine only to medical students and do not teach it to students in other colleges such as dentistry and nursing.
Forensic Odontology deals with the presentation of dental evidence in a court of law. An academic exploration revealed instances of technical challenges within the field. This study endeavours to delve into the spheres where these challenges occur, with the core objective of enhancing the quality of practice. An integrative literature review was conducted using the online platforms SCOPUS and Web of Science. Based on the selection criteria, 29 pertinent papers dated 2000-2023 were included. Quantitative analysis of the categories of selected articles was performed using Microsoft Excel 2019 (Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA, USA). Technical concerns were reported in all facets of Forensic Odontology with the general role of expert witnesses being reported the most (n=8; 27.58%). Within the different facets of the field, age estimation was the most prominent area of concern (n=8; 27.58%) and child abuse and neglect (n=1; 3.57%) represented the least reported category. Findings indicate that there is a need to prioritize avenues to enhance the quality of practice in the general role of expert witnesses and the specific area of dental age estimation. To this end, increased support for researchers must be provided to help validate methodologies. It is advisable to institute mandatory formal training and proficiency testing within the field. Inadequate knowledge of dentists regarding child abuse and neglect has been noted, demonstrating the need for more dedicated quality training. Recommendations for Forensic Odontologists have been curated combining this study's results and the codes of ethics of various forensic organisations
Background:
A mass fatality incident is an unexpected event that can cause the death of many people, which has motivated careful analysis and development of appropriate strategies for planning and response with all available resources. Since these events involve multiple victims, their identities must be confirmed using the highest possible quality standards. Forensic Odontology (FO) has proven to be a scientific resource for disaster victim identification (DVI) procedures; however, it is highly dependent on the proper management not only of material resources but also of human resources. Chile is a country recognized as prone to natural disasters, but an insufficient number of forensic odontologists has been reported. The aim of the study was to review the literature on a dental undergraduate (UG) student's potential value in a DVI process.
Methodology:
A scoping review was performed using a specific search strategy in PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, SciELO and EBSCO databases.
Results:
The search identified 27 articles in which the basic dental degree, the necessary training, and the need for human resources are variables considered in different priorities by those articles.
Discussion:
It is vital to assess the local needs of Chile based on its UGs, considering that FO is an underestimated resource that should be included early on in dental curriculums. Further, it should align with public policies to ensure viability and inclusion in standardized protocols.
Conclusion:
Although there is "potential" usage of UG dental students in DVI is not ideal, circumstances will dictate their use. The better trained they are as students, the more valuable their "potential" contribution will be.
Resumen
Objetivo: Analizar la distribución de tensiones que
provoca una fuerza axial en el modelo tridimensional, con el
método de elementos finitos, en la prótesis parcial fija implantosoportada
con voladizo distal (PPFIVD) sobre implantes
dentales cortos en el sector posterior del maxilar parcialmente
desdentado.
Materiales y métodos: Se crearon modelos geométricos
del maxilar. Se diseñaron dos grupos y cuatro subgrupos.
En zona premolar, se ubicaron implantes cortos Standard
Plus SLA® (Straumann) de diferentes longitudes. Grupo A:
PPFIVD con dos implantes, GA1 de 8 mm y GA2 de 4 mm.
Grupo B: PPFIVD con un implante, GB1 de 8 mm y GB2 de
4 mm. Se aplicó una fuerza axial de 100 N a 30°.
Resultados: La distribución de las tensiones en los implantes
fue menor en GA1 que en GA2, y en GB1 que en
GB2. A nivel óseo, la distribución de las tensiones fue mayor
en GA1 que en GA2, y en GB2 que en GB1. Se observaron
microdeformaciones óseas periimplante y, posteriormente,
desplazamiento del conjunto prótesis/implante.
Conclusiones: La PPFIVD sobre dos implantes de 8 y
4 mm ferulizados podría ser una alternativa viable al levantamiento
del piso de seno maxilar. La PPFIVD sobre un implante
de 4 mm no sería recomendable. Las tensiones elevadas
provocaron menor rendimiento en geometría oseoimplantaria,
evidenciando microdeformaciones en el tejido óseo tridimensional
y desplazamientos de la PPFIVD.
Palabras clave: Análisis de elementos finitos, implante
corto, prótesis parcial fija implantosoportada, voladizo distal.
Abstract
Aim: To analyze the stress distribution generated by axial
forces in a three-dimensional model using the finite element method.
The study was performed on implant-supported fixed partial
prostheses with distal cantilever (PPFIVD) on short dental implants
placed into the posterior partially edentulous maxilla.
Materials and methods: Geometric models of the
maxilla were created. Two groups and subgroups were designed.
Standard Plus SLA® (Straumann) short implants of
different lengths were located in the premolar area; Group A:
PPFIVD with two implants, GA1 8 mm and GA2 4 mm, Group
B: PPFIVD with an implant, GB1 8 mm and GB2 4 mm. An
axial force of 100 N at 30° was applied.
Results: The distribution of tensions at the level of implants
was lower in GA1 in relation to GA2, and GB1 was
lower than GB2. At bone level the stress distribution was
higher in GA1 than in GA2 and in GB1 was lower than in
GB2. Bone periimplant microstrain as well as PPFIVD displacement
were observed.
Conclusions: PPFIVD on two splinted 8 and 4 mm
implants could be a viable alternative to the maxillary sinus
floor lift. PPFIVD on a 4 mm implant would not be predictable.
High tensions caused lower yields in bone-implant geometry,
evidencing microdeformations in three-dimensional
bone tissue and PPFIVD shifts.
Key words: Distal cantilever, finite element analysis,
fixed partial prosthesis, short implants.
Recently published studies showed that age assessment methods are population specific. Authors analyse the senescence changes in pubic symphysis and sacro-pelvic surface of a pelvic bone using data mining methods. The multi-ethnic data set consists of 956 adult individuals ranging from 19 to 100 years of age derived from 9 different populations with known age and sex. The results show that accurate and reliable age assessment is possible to three age classes (less than 30, 30-60, 60 and more). The study confirms that population specificity of the methods exists and the variable "sex" is not important in age classification.
This review of literature provides an overview of the most commonly used dental age estimation techniques and focuses on dental age estimation scoring systems in children and adults. In order to obtain a more reliable and reproducible age estimation the forensic odontologist should use several of these available methods whenever an age estimation in the living or dead is required.
Dental maturity was studied from dental panoramic radiographs of 2523 Belgian children (1255 girls and 1268 boys) aged 2 to 18 years. The aim was to compare the efficiency of two methods of age prediction: Demirjian's method, using differently weighted scores, and polynomial functions. The two methods present some differences: Demirjian is used to determine the maturity score as a function of age and polynomial functions are used to determine age as a function of the maturity score. We present, for each method, gender-specific dental maturity tables and curves for Belgian children. Girls always present advanced dental maturity compared with boys. The polynomial functions are highly reliable (0.21% of incorrect classifications) and the percentile method, using Belgian weighted scores, is very accurate (+/- 2.08 years on average, between 2 and 16 years of age).
Human identification, by comparing dental characteristics, is considered to be one of the most reliable, accurate and rapid methods of resolving the identity of visually un-identifiable deceased persons. In recent decades computer programs have evolved to aid odontologists by suggesting records that have similar dental features. The aim of the present study was to compare two of those programs; Disaster And Victim IDentification (DAVID) and WinID3 in terms of effectiveness, accuracy and speed of data entry and to further compare them with the efficiency of the classical method of manually matching postmortem and antemortem dental records. An open disaster was simulated whereby 52 fragmented remains made of acrylic replicas and 77 provisional victims were represented on Interpol F2 postmortem and antemortem forms. The results assessed were the first seven possible matches made by each program. Manual matching of dental characteristics performed better than both programs (P<0.001) yielding 29 identifications. Eleven and six positive matches were the result of the DAVID and the WinID3 programs respectively (P=0.185). Data entry was quicker for WinID3. It was concluded that both programs are still not as accurate as the time-consuming manual matching method. The difference in performance between the DAVID and the WinID3 programs was attributed to the inclusion of more comparable dental characteristics, the inclusion of the type of dentition (deciduous or permanent) and the weighting of those characteristics by the DAVID program.
With 158 victims, the fire on board the Scandinavian Star was one of the world's worst ferry disasters. A team of identification experts, including dentists, were employed to secure evidence for identification and to remove the victims from the ferry. Four parallel teams, each with 2 dentists, examined and autopsied the victims at the Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Oslo. Using the INTERPOL Disaster Victim Identification forms and aided by computers, all victims were identified within 17 days. Dental identity could be established in 107 cases (68%).Mit 158 Opfern war das Feuer an Bord der Scandinavian Star eines der schlimmsten Fhrenunglcke in der Welt. Ein Team von Identifizierungsexperten inklusive zweier Zahnrzte arbeitete auf dem Schiff, um die Leichen zu bergen. Vier Teams, jedes mit zwei Zahnrzten besetzt, untersuchten und obduzierten die Leichen am Rechtsmedizinischen Institut, Universitt Oslo. Mit Hilfe des Interpol-MassenunglcksSchemas und untersttzt von Computern hat die Norwegische Identifizierungskommission die Identitt von allen Opfern innerhalb von 17 Tagen festgestellt. Die zahnrztliche Identitt konnte in 107 Fllen festgestellt werden (68%).
This meeting, held in October 1980 in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, was a very serious effort to begin international cooperation in a much needed area: disaster investigation and identification. Under the leadership of Col. Arie van den Bos of the Royal Police of the Netherlands, the work was accomplished with representatives and observers from many major countries represented. Efforts were made to solve the enigma of international cooperation. A plane crash of an airline of a major country in a distant country can be properly investigated only with the cooperation of the carrier and the country in which the tragedy occurred. The International Academy of Legal Medicine and Social Medicine devoted a 3-day program to the study of this problem during their last international meeting in Lyon, France, and it will be discussed further in Vienna in 1982 under the leadership of Prof. Wilhelm Holczabek. The experience of Norwegian investigators is mentioned as an example of the type of problems encountered with foreign nationals involved in a crash in the country, or a disaster involving a ship or a oil platform where foreign nationals are working, or in a tragedy such as the propylene explosion in Tarragona, Spain, which resulted in more than 200 tourists from many countries dying in the fire, many bodies burned beyond recognition.
This article presents a discussion of the scientific basis for human bitemark analyses. Using a review of the literature, the major areas of contention within the field are assessed: including the accuracy of bitemarks on skin, the uniqueness of the human dentition, and analytical techniques. The review revealed a lack of valid evidence to support many of the assumptions made by forensic dentists during bitemark comparisons. The new level of judicial scrutiny of such scientific evidence is likely to emphasise this lack of knowledge upon which bitemark analysis relies. The authors call for a more scientific and evidence-based approach to forensic dental research.
Motivated by the findings of a previous research project, 38 forensic odontologists with known occupational experience of mass casualty incidents completed a questionnaire designed to elicit both quantitative and qualitative data. The questionnaire sought to provide an insight into the psychological and emotional impact of conducting work of this nature. Two psychometric scales were included in the questionnaire, The Positive and Negative Affect scale (PANAS) and the Impact of Events Scale (IOE). In addition, a number of open-ended questions relating to the personal experiences of the respondent during the mass casualty incident were also included. Quantitative findings indicate that on the whole mass casualty incidents resulted in a positive experience for the respondents, although over a third reported being distressed, upset or irritable at some time during the event. Sense of achievement and camaraderie were among the qualitative themes elicited that help explain the positive reactions. Working conditions, politics and the ictims were cited as sources of negativity.
The aim of the present study was to obtain data on the reliability and reproducibility of two non-destructive dental-age estimation methods in adults by calculating inter- and intra-observer effects. Both a morphological and a radiological technique available in the scientific literature were evaluated on a number of recently extracted teeth: the morphological technique was evaluated on a total of 160 teeth by two examiners, while three examiners applied the radiological technique on apical radiographs of 72 extracted teeth. Paired t-tests were used to calculate intra- and inter-observer differences. For the morphological method, both examiners were able to produce dental-age estimations that did not differ significantly from the real age of the teeth, obtaining a mean error between 0.5 and 1.8 years and a standard deviation of this error between 9.0 and 11.3 years. When using the radiological technique according to the original protocol, all three examiners produced age estimations that were statistically comparable to the real age of the teeth with a mean error of 0.5-2.5 years and a standard deviation of 4.6-9.8 years. For both techniques, intra-observer differences were observed. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that both non-destructive dental-age estimation techniques were able to produce reasonably accurate dental-age estimations, at least when these techniques were applied appropriately. However, the forensic odontologist is recommended to use different age estimation techniques and perform repetitive measurements in order to verify the reproducibility of the calculations performed.
The educational preparation required for entry into the forensic science careers and the availability of corresponding employment opportunities is discussed. The biomedical specialties include several disciplines for which a terminal professional doctorate or PhD is required or highly recommended. Crime scene investigators may have bachelors or higher degrees, but the majority are still sworn law enforcement personnel many of whom are not required to have academic degrees. Most of the forensic science programs in colleges and universities provide education and training in criminalistics and/or toxicology, some of which are highly specialized, while others are more general in their approach.
The boxing day tsunami of 26 December 2004 caused devastation and loss of life around the Indian ocean. International disaster victim identification efforts were centred in Thailand, with many odontologists from over 20 countries contributing to the examination of deceased, collection of antemortem information, comparison and reconciliation of data. The contribution of forensic odontology to the identification process conducted in Thailand in response to the tsunami devastation is presented in a composite of short reports focused on the five phases associated with disaster victim identification. To date 1,474 deceased have been identified. Dental comparison has been the primary identifier in 79% of cases and a contributor in another 8%, a total of 87%.
The estimation of chronological age in cadavers, human remains and in living human beings by various methods is discussed. These methods, which are based on the age dependent non-enzymatic changes of l-form amino acids to d-form amino acids, mainly aspartic acid, are among the most reliable and accurate methods to date. Most of these methods use gas chromatography (GC). In this review, results of aspartic acid racemization in dentin at different targets are discussed. In addition, pre-considerations and guidelines are given for the selection of dentin from teeth. A pilot project was run to evaluate the efficiency of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with fluorescence detection. New buffer conditions were found to obtain stable derivatives of aspartic acid enantiomers for the estimation of racemization.
In 1997 an internally supported but unfunded pilot project at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (VIFM) Australia led to the development of a computer system which closely mimicked Interpol paperwork for the storage, later retrieval and tentative matching of the many AM and PM dental records that are often needed for rapid Disaster Victim Identification. The program was called "DAVID" (Disaster And Victim IDentification). It combined the skills of the VIFM Information Technology systems manager (VW), an experienced odontologist (JGC) and an expert database designer (JC); all current authors on this paper. Students did much of the writing of software to prescription from Monash University. The student group involved won an Australian Information Industry Award in recognition of the contribution the new software could have made to the DVI process. Unfortunately, the potential of the software was never realized because paradoxically the federal nature of Australia frequently thwarts uniformity of systems across the entire country. As a consequence, the final development of DAVID never took place. Given the recent problems encountered post-tsunami by the odontologists who were obliged to use the Plass Data system (Plass Data Software, Holbaek, Denmark) and with the impending risks imposed upon Victoria by the decision to host the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne during March 2006, funding was sought and obtained from the state government to update counter disaster preparedness at the VIFM. Some of these funds have been made available to upgrade and complete the DAVID project. In the wake of discussions between leading expert odontologists from around the world held in Geneva during July 2003 at the invitation of the International Committee of the Red Cross significant alterations to the initial design parameters of DAVID were proposed. This was part of broader discussions directed towards developing instruments which could be used by the ICRC's "The Missing" project that seeks to identify the victims of civil unrest and other atrocities. The most significant of these recommendations was that the next version of DAVID should be web-based allowing it to be used anywhere in the world and on any computer platform. The original intention that the software should be made available as freeware was strongly reiterated and endorsed. During 2005 these recommendations have been realized. This paper will describe the design parameters of the new software "DAVID web" and compare its features and performance with alternative packages.
Forensic odontology involves dentists' participation in assisting legal and criminal issues. Formal teaching in forensic odontology has existed for over a 100 years. Over the last century, forensic odontology has evolved and, today, it is an integral part of undergraduate dental training in many countries. Dentists have been trained in the specialty, and dedicated departments established in institutes and universities around the world. A survey undertaken at five universities revealed that these centres have developed detailed curricula in forensic odontology, and a general standard exists in teaching forensic odontology, however, coverage of recent advances in forensic science may be lacking. While recognising that these programmes are not representative of teaching in forensic odontology worldwide, suggestions are made for an alternative approach to teaching the subject. Moreover, it is stressed that teaching be undertaken by qualified forensic odontologists.
The high number of murder, rape, and child abuse cases in South Africa has led to increased numbers of bite mark cases being heard in high courts. Objective analysis to match perpetrators to bite marks at crime scenes must be able to withstand vigorous cross-examination to be of value in conviction of perpetrators. An analysis technique is described in four stages, namely determination of the mark to be a human bite mark, pattern association analysis, metric analysis and comparison with the population data, and illustrated by a real case study. New and accepted techniques are combined to determine the likelihood ratio of guilt expressed as one of a range of conclusions described in the paper. Each stage of the analysis adds to the confirmation (or rejection) of concordance between the dental features present on the victim and the dentition of the suspect. The results illustrate identification to a high degree of certainty.
Morality versus profit 11. Acharya AB. Teaching forensic odontology: an opinion on its content and format
- H Bernitz
Bernitz H. Morality versus profit. J Forensic Odontostomatol 2008 27: 1. 224 International Dental Journal (2009) Vol. 59/No.4 11. Acharya AB. Teaching forensic odontology: an opinion on its content and format. Eur J Dent Educ 2006 10: 137-141.
New software for computerassisted dental-data matching in Disaster Victim Identification and long-term missing persons investigationsDAVID Web Pretty IA, Sweet D. The scientific basis for human bitemark analyses -a critical review
- Jg Clement
- V Winship
- J Ceddia
Clement JG, Winship V, Ceddia J et al. New software for computerassisted dental-data matching in Disaster Victim Identification and long-term missing persons investigations: "DAVID Web". Forensic Sci Int 2006 159 Suppl 1: S24-29. 16. Pretty IA, Sweet D. The scientific basis for human bitemark analyses -a critical review. Sci Justice 2001 41: 85-92.
The wide range of forensic dentistry Correspondence to: Professor Herman Bernitz, Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, University of Pre-toria P.O. Box 1266
- D Sweet
Sweet D. The wide range of forensic dentistry. Gen Dent 2002 50: 8, 10. Correspondence to: Professor Herman Bernitz, Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, University of Pre-toria P.O. Box 1266, Pretoria 0001, Gauteng, South Africa. Email: bernitz@iafrica.com
Globalization and belonging: The politics of identity a changing world. pp 10
- Sl Croucher
Croucher SL. Globalization and belonging: The politics of identity a
changing world. pp 10. Rowman & Littlefield. 2004.
Globalization and belonging: The politics of identity a changing world
- S L Croucher
Croucher SL. Globalization and belonging: The politics of identity a
changing world. pp 10. Rowman & Littlefield. 2004.
50: 8, 10. Correspondence to: Professor Herman Bernitz, Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, University of Pretoria P.O. Box 1266, Pretoria 0001
- D Sweet
Sweet D. The wide range of forensic dentistry. Gen Dent 2002 50:
8, 10.
Correspondence to: Professor Herman Bernitz, Department of Oral
Pathology and Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, University of Pretoria P.O. Box 1266, Pretoria 0001, Gauteng, South Africa. Email:
bernitz@iafrica.com