Transcript Identification of Human Remains

Lecture VI
Identification is essential when
the deceased is decomposed,
burned or dismembered.
The identification of the
deceased individuals is an
essential element in the process
of death certification
Identification cases are not pleasant,
especially when decomposition is
concerned.
 Dental
identification plays an important
role in the identification of victims of
disastrous events where there are
massive numbers of victims.
The evidence derived from teeth are:
 the age estimation (i.e., children,
adolescents, adults)
 identification of the person to whom the
teeth belong.
 Criminal
Investigation in criminal death cannot begin
until the victim has been positively
identified.
 Marriage
Individuals from many religious
backgrounds cannot remarry unless their
partners are confirmed deceased.
 Monetary
Payment of pensions, life insurance and
other benefits relies upon positive
confirmation of death.
 Burial
Many religions require that positive
identification be made prior to burial in
geographical sites.
 Closure
Identification of individuals missing for
prolong time can bring peace and
closure to family members, that it is an
essential component of the grieving
process.
 The
identification of unknown persons
may start at a crime scene or during the
autopsy the postmortem examination.
 The postmortem examination consists of:
 visual examination (cranial features),
 x-rays ( dental features),
 biological dental evidence (a complete
or fragments of a jaw or a few teeth).
 Information
gathered during this
examination is documented in a written
report.
 This information is coded into a
computer identification program that
contains both antemortem (before death)
and postmortem (after death) dental
records.
 The computer compares these records in
an attempt to match the unknown with
known records, or photographs.
 Comparison
of pre- and postmortem data
lead to one of the following situations:
 Positive identification
 Possible identification
 Insufficient identification evidence
 Exclusion of identification evidence
 Positive
identification:
There is no differences among items of
antemortem and postmortem dental
records are observed
 Possible identification:
There are common aspects among items
of antemortem and postmortem dental
records; however, sufficient agreement to
establish positive identification is
lacking.
 Insufficient
identification evidence:
There is insufficient evidence to reach a
conclusion.
 Exclusion of identification evidence:
There are differences among items of
antemortem and postmortem dental
records which prevent the establishment
of an identification
It involves pre- and postmortem comparison:
1. Dental comparison
2. Radiographic pictures
3. Finger prints
4. Palm prints
5. Foot prints
6. Serological identification
7. DNA identification
 Quality
radiographs and accurate charting
are the FIRST steps in providing a positive
identification.
 The documented information in the antemortem dental record should be recorded
clearly, correctly, and specifically.
 Dental professionals should to utilize
universal abbreviations when documenting.
 Dental professionals should document the
detailed procedures conducted on patients.
 An
identification begins with what is
called an assumed identification, which
means that the evidence is sufficient to
expect who the deceased individual is
(purse or wallet, witness, a person known
to be missing).
 The
individual’s dentist is located and
dental records are requested.
 People living in the deceased’s
neighborhood can be helpful in locating
the dentist.
 Insurance papers, bills, and other means
of communication from the dental office.
 poor
individuals who are homeless are
not so easily identified because dental
records are limited.
 Typically, they have been seen by
various dentists, or emergency clinics;
few have regular dentists.
 Due
to circumstances of death or
decomposition, visual identification by
someone who knew the deceased is
impossible.
 This may require taking x-rays on the
deceased and comparing them with x-rays
of who the person who is supposed to be.
 Often, in
burn cases, the evidence
presented to the forensic dentist is minimal.
 When teeth are subjected to high
temperatures, the organic portion of the
tooth, the dentin, expands and the
surrounding enamel separates from the
dentin.
 The dental structures are so fragile that
they require careful removal before xrays can be taken.
 No
complete dentition may be present, and
there may be only:
 portions of teeth ,
 restorations,
 evidence of roots and sinuses that can be
compared to antemortem x-rays without
actual teeth.
 Because of their unique nature, sinuses are
often used for identification, especially if
there is evidence of roots below them.
A
body was recovered from a fire pit, the
burning was so complete that the
investigation revealed several fractured
pieces of teeth and the crown (minus the
enamel) and a partial root of tooth No. 18.
 In addition to the dental remains, pieces
of bones revealed that the remains
belonged to a young woman whose age
and body size were consistent with the
female who had been kidnapped.
 The
tooth No. 18 was the key to the case. A
few weeks before the kidnap, the victim’s
dentist had placed occlusal amalgam
restoration in tooth No. 18 and bonded it in
place with a new dental resin cement. This
was an unusual application of the product.
 When the restoration and surrounding
dentin were analyzed, it was determined to
contain zirconium, which was one of the
elements in the manufactured product. Her
dentist testified that she had indeed placed
the restoration and bonded it with this new
dental resin cement.
 In
addition, evidence of zinc oxide was
found in the dentinal tubules and the
dental charting by her previous dentist
indicated that a zinc oxide base had been
placed in that tooth nearly 10 years
earlier. The successful examination of this
case reveals to the importance of
thorough and accurate dental charting.
 There
are three categories examined for
identification :
The teeth,
the periodontal tissue, and
the anatomical features.
 The
comparison of teeth includes:
-tooth type (permanent, deciduous,
retained primary, supernumerary),
-erupted, unerupted or impacted
-congenitally missing or lost antemortem/post-mortem,
- the tooth position
-crown morphology
-root morphology and,
- pathology.
 The
root surfaces of teeth have unique
shapes and bends that just may be the key
to a positive identification.
 Incidents
such as plane crashes and
explosions can damage the coronal
surface of the tooth. A positive
identification is made by comparing the
pulp chamber and root morphology.
 The
pulp chamber can be used to
distinguish approximate age of the
individual (size varies from children to
adult teeth).
 The root morphology along with the pulp
chambers will assist in determining
whether the tooth is from the maxillary or
mandibular arch, and distinguishing if it
is an anterior or posterior tooth.
Two dental radiographs. Left is taken after death;
right is before death.
The metal crown and dental structures have
similar outlines




Mandibular canal,
Coronoid and condylar processes,
Tempromandibular joint (TMJ),
Some pathologies (developmental cysts,
salivary gland pathology, trauma, evidence
of surgery, metabolic bone disease, focal or
diffuse radiopacities).
Other factors used for a comparison:

gingival morphology and pathology,

periodontal ligament morphology and
pathology,

the alveolar process and lamina dura.

the maxillary sinus,

anterior nasal spine,