Partial amputation due to tongue bite in death-associated with eclampsia.

Eclampsia is one of the most dangerous complications of pregnancy and has a high incidence in developing countries. It is characterized by coma and the occurrence of generalized tonic-clonic seizures in pregnant women with hypertension. Deep bites on the tongue and other orofacial injuries have been described as consequences of these seizures. We present a case of death associated with eclampsia in which the bite during the seizure episode caused almost total amputation of an enlarged tongue (macroglossia). The medico-legal value of this finding and the situation due to antecedent pathological conditions and lack of routine screening in pregnant women who may migrate legally or illegally to give birth with better medical care are discussed.

Study of Lip Conditions Associated with Lip Print Patterns: A New Perspective on Cheiloscopy / Estudio de Afecciones Labiales Asociadas a sus Patrones de Huellas: Una Nueva Perspectiva en Queiloscopía

SUMMARY: Although almost all studies exclude lip conditions because they would affect furrow patterns, some authors maintain that they should be considered temporary or permanent disabilities, all of which require further research in this context.We present a study in which we associate lip conditions with lip print patterns to associate both morphological elements for fieldwork purposes. Fifty-seven women and 48 men aged between 19 and 38 years who resided in Temuco (Chile) were included. The lip conditions and their prints were recorded, and an analysis, comparison, evaluation, and verification protocol (ACE-V) for lip prints was applied. Of the participants, 27.4 % had healthy lips, while 71.7 % had some type of condition. Although patterns related to temporary and permanent lip conditions were recognized in the lip prints in a non-significant way, the diagnosis of "healthy" or "altered" lip status could be made significantly by a calibrated examiner. Although these conditions do not represent identifying variables without empirical studies to validate them, they can affect the quality of the evaluated lip print; therefore, they should be recognized during the analyses considering the prevalence of these conditions.

Aunque casi todos los estudios excluyen las afecciones labiales pues afectarían los patrones de sus surcos y huellas, algunos autores sostienen que deben ser consideradas alteraciones temporales o permanentes, por lo que se requiere mayor investigación en este aspecto. Se presenta un estudio en el que se asocian afecciones labiales con sus patrones de huellas para evaluar conjuntamente ambos elementos morfológicos con fines de trabajo forense de campo. Se incluyeron 57 mujeres y 48 hombres con edades entre 19 y 38 años residentes en Temuco (Chile). Se registraron las afecciones de los labios y sus huellas, y se aplicó un protocolo de análisis, comparación, evaluación y verificación (ACE-V) para las huellas labiales. De los participantes, el 27,4 % tenía labios sanos, mientras que el 71,7 % presentaba algún tipo de afección. Aunque los patrones relacionados con afecciones labiales temporales y permanentes se reconocieron en las huellas labiales de manera no significativa, un examinador calibrado podría realizar significativamente el diagnóstico de estado labial "sano" o "alterado". Si bien estas condiciones no representan variables de identificación sin estudios empíricos que las validen, pueden afectar la calidad de la impresión labial evaluada; por lo tanto, deben ser reconocidos durante los análisis considerando la prevalencia de estas condiciones.

Digital matching of palatal rugae patterns for forensic identification in edentulous denture wearers.

Identifying edentulous victims in forensic contexts poses a significant challenge. It has been reported that having a denture to reproduce and compare Palatal Rugae (PR) patterns is crucial for identifying edentulous individuals, yet there are no validated protocols for conducting this procedure. In this study, a new method was developed and validated for plaster molding of the internal surface of upper dentures, along with a protocol involving focus-stacked photographs and reference scales. Thirty-eight edentulous subjects participated in the study, obtaining plaster models of the patients (PM), and their dentures (AM) were standardized. The AM/PM model was highlighted and photographed with ten shots in different z-focuses for each model, using standard lighting and aligning the position of the PR perpendicular to the photographic axis using tubular spirit levels and modeling clay. The images were processed using the stacking technique and analyzed by three observers through the proposed protocol using Adobe® Photoshop®. The results were analyzed based on the intra-observer and inter-observer agreement levels, with a 95% confidence interval. This study demonstrated high-precision intra-observer and inter-observer agreement (k = 1) in the matching of Palatal Rugae (PR) and maxillary morphology obtained from participants and their dentures. The protocol is simple, cost-effective, and precise. It enables standardization of the technique for obtaining plaster models, and the exposure of PR and photographic protocol minimizes the presence of artifacts in the images, thereby reducing the likelihood of errors and promoting the reproducibility of both the recording technique and the comparison of the PR.

Dental Loss in the Lower Socioeconomic Stratum of a Sample of the Chilean Population Born in the 19TH and 20TH Centuries / Pérdida Dental en el Estrato Socioeconómico Bajo de una Muestra de la Población Chilena Nacida en los Siglos XIX y XX

SUMMARY: Partial or total dental loss (edentulism) is associated with decreased quality of life. Chile has large socioeconomic gaps, which are also recognized in oral health, but it is not known how Edentulism has evolved throughout the country. The aim of this study was to determine the edentulism in people born during the 19th and 20th centuries in Chile, who died in the 20th century, and to compare it with current data from the Chilean Ministry of Health (MINSAL) to observe its evolution in the country. For this purpose, 60 3D models of skulls from the Subactual Osteological Collection of Santiago were analyzed (30 individuals per sex), in which the presence and absence of teeth in antemortem in the maxilla were analyzed. A high percentage of tooth loss was observed, with 65 % partial edentulism, a 30 % total edentulism, and only 5 % had complete dentition in this osteological collection. In addition, a significant decrease over time was found; in 2017, the percentage of complete dentition at the national level was 32.8 %. A higher frequency of edentulism was also found in females from the osteological collection, with a significant probability of twice as much edentulism as in males. However, this sex difference was smaller than those found in the current study. Our study is the first to compare edentulism in Chile in two different time periods, since, in addition to studying it in the 19th and 20th century, it is carried out with data from the present day and in line with previous research, reveals the importance of socioeconomic and sex variables for dental loss.

La pérdida parcial o total de dientes (edentulismo) se asocia a una disminución de la calidad de vida. Chile tiene grandes brechas socioeconómicas, que también se reconocen en la salud oral, pero se desconoce cómo ha evolucionado el edentulismo en el país. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar el edentulismo en personas nacidas durante los siglos XIX y XX en Chile y fallecidas en el siglo XX, y compararlo con datos actuales del Ministerio de Salud de Chile (MINSAL) para observar su evolución en el país. Para ello, se analizaron 60 modelos 3D de cráneos de la Colección Osteológica Subactual de Santiago (30 individuos por sexo), en los que se analizó la presencia y ausencia de dientes en dentición antemortem en el maxilar. Se observó un alto porcentaje de pérdida dentaria, con un 65 % de edentulismo parcial y un 30 % de edentulismo total, y sólo un 5 % presentaba dentición completa en esta colección osteológica. Además, se encontró una disminución significativa a lo largo del tiempo; en 2017, la dentición completa a nivel país fue del 32,8 %. También se encontró una mayor frecuencia de edentulismo en las mujeres de la colección osteológica, con una probabilidad significativa del doble de edentulismo que en los hombres. Sin embargo, esta diferencia de sexo fue menor que la hallada en datos actuales. Este estudio es el primero que compara el edentulismo en Chile en dos épocas diferentes, ya que además de estudiarlo en los siglos XIX y XX, se realizó con datos de la actualidad y, en línea con investigaciones previas, revela la importancia de las variables socioeconómicas y de sexo en la pérdida dental.

An R Script to Estimate Which and How Many Landmarks Represent the Most Variable Parts of an Object / Un Script R para Estimar Cuáles y Cuántos Puntos de Referencia Representan las Partes más Variables de un Objeto

SUMMARY: The study of the shape variation in geometric morphometrics has an important limitation known as the Pinocchio effect. The Pinocchio effect produces artifactual variances of the landmarks and implies that it is not possible to know the morphological change structure of an object, other than by dividing the landmark sets and then comparing them. This, however, involves making prior assumptions about the pattern of variation of an object. In this study, we provide a code in R to iterate over a complete set of landmarks and test all possible combinations of landmarks until deliver those landmarks associated with the largest to the smallest morphological changes. We tested this on a sample of 28 landmarks in 143 3D models of human skulls. The results indicated that this process can result in a pooled variance of a subset of landmarks that is an order of magnitude larger than that of several other regions of the skull. This method makes it possible to describe the pattern of variation of any 2D or 3D object represented by fixed landmarks, to distinguish the shape features that have more morphological dispersion, and to avoid any aprioristic assumptions about how the morphological changes of an object behave.

El estudio de la variación de la forma en morfometría geométrica tiene una limitación importante conocida como efecto Pinocho. El efecto Pinocho produce variaciones artefactos de los puntos de referencia e implica que no es posible conocer la estructura del cambio morfológico de un objeto, salvo dividiendo los conjuntos de puntos de referencia y luego comparándolos. Sin embargo, esto implica hacer suposiciones previas sobre el patrón de variación de un objeto. En este estudio, proporcionamos un código en R para iterar sobre un conjunto completo de puntos de referencia y probar todas las combinaciones posibles de puntos de referencia hasta entregar aquellos puntos de referencia asociados con los cambios morfológicos más grandes a los más pequeños. Probamos esto en una muestra de 28 puntos de referencia en 143 modelos 3D de cráneos humanos. Los resultados indicaron que este proceso puede dar como resultado una variación combinada de un subconjunto de puntos de referencia que es un orden de magnitud mayor que el de varias otras regiones del cráneo. Este método permite describir el patrón de variación de cualquier objeto 2D o 3D representado por puntos de referencia fijos, distinguir las características de forma que tienen más dispersión morfológica y evitar suposiciones apriorísticas sobre cómo se comportan los cambios morfológicos de un objeto.

A novel conservative technique to allow oral opening and overcome rigor mortis during medicolegal autopsy.

This study presents a novel conservative technique to increase oral opening and overcome rigor mortis during medicolegal autopsy (MLA). The method proposes a myotomy of the temporalis and masseter muscles, taking advantage of the incisions of the cranial opening procedures, to achieve a significant oral opening (≥ 30 mm) in fresh cadavers with established rigor mortis without altering facial aesthetics. The study was performed on 48 individuals aged between 18 and 66 years (20 males and 28 females) who were autopsied at the Instituto Nacional de Patología Forense Dr. Sergio Sarita Valdez (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic). The proposed technique not only allowed the oral access to all autopsied cadavers but also complied with current ethical standards for preserving facial aesthetics, taking into account the concerns of family members by allowing respectful viewing of the cadaver. This advancement not only contributes to the efficiency of oral autopsies but also influences public perception of forensic procedures and highlights the importance of ethical and aesthetic considerations in the context of MLAs. The proposed technique represents a significant step towards more respectful and ethical forensic practices, and offers practical advantages for a more complete and accurate assessment during MLA.

Latin American Forensic Odontology: A Scoping Review of its Current Research and the Objective/Subjective Nature of its Studies

SUMMARY: The new paradigm in Forensic Sciences initiated by the entry of genetics (the current standard of legal evidence) and accentuated by recognized wrongful convictions derived from experts today in the eye of criticism, has highlighted the potential for bias and error in forensic disciplines when they depend on human interpretation and subjectivity, which has not been avoided by Forensic Odontology (FO). However, a subjective judgment is not necessarily wrong, so the refinement of processes, the development of standards, and robust research can contribute to the validity of interpretation to increase objectivity. Latin America (LATAM) has its own realities and needs, which have conditioned the priorities and objectives of FO research. A scoping review is presented to systematically map the investigation of LATAM researchers and identify the objective or subjective nature of their assessments. LATAM shows interesting productivity and intentions to adhere to international standards, with Brazil leading this research significantly, followed by Chile and Colombia, among others. However, there is a disproportionate approach in certain lines of research (dental age estimation), and needs to address other quantitative studies, and to improve the visibility of the LATAM FO research.

El nuevo paradigma en ciencias forenses iniciado por la entrada de la genética (el actual estándar de la evidencia jurídica), y acentuado por reconocidas condenas injustas derivadas de pericias hoy en el ojo de la crítica, ha destacado el potencial de sesgo y error que poseen algunas disciplinas forenses cuando dependen de la interpretación humana y la subjetividad, lo cual no ha sido ajeno a la odontología forense (OF). Sin embargo, un juicio subjetivo no necesariamente es erróneo, con lo que el refinamiento de procesos, el desarrollo de estándares y la investigación robusta pueden contribuir a validar esa interpretación para aumentar su objetividad. Latinoamérica (LATAM) posee realidades y necesidades propias que han condicionado las prioridades y objetivos de la investigación en OF. Se presenta una revisión con búsqueda sistemática para mapear sistemáticamente la investigación en OF realizada por investigadores latinoamericanos, así como identificar la naturaleza objetiva o subjetiva de sus evaluaciones. LATAM demuestra una productividad interesante e intenciones de adherirse a estándares internacionales, con Brasil liderando significativamente esta investigación, seguido por Chile y Colombia entre otros. Sin embargo, se observa un enfoque desproporcionado en ciertas líneas de investigación (estimación de edad dental particularmente), y necesidad tanto de abordar otros estudios cuantitativos como de mejorar la visibilidad de la investigación latinoamericana en OF.

Limitaciones Técnicas del Método de Conteo de Anulaciones del Cemento para Estimación de Edad. Hallazgos a Partir de Una Revisión con Búsqueda Sistemática / Technical Limitations of Cementum Annulation Count Method for age Estimation. Findings From A Scoping Review

En la última década, la odontología forense se ha enfocado en el desarrollo de metodologías para la estimación de edad (EE) debido a la gran demanda en procesos identificatorios. Entre esas técnicas, el conteo de anulaciones del cemento dental (TCA) ha ofrecido resultados promisorios, pero también contradictorios que han generado dudas sobre su precisión y confiabilidad. El objetivo de este trabajo fue caracterizar, establecer alcances, e identificar las limitaciones del conteo de TCA según los actuales estándares normativos y metodológicos. Se realizó una revisión con búsqueda sistemática del método de conteo de TCA para EE incluyendo estudios experimentales y notas técnicas en las bases PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science (WoS) y Embase. Se emplearon los términos "estimation", "age" y "cementum", con búsqueda manual complementaria en Google Scholar. Se excluyeron revisiones, estudios en colecciones arqueológicas, estudios radiológicos y cartas al editor. La búsqueda arrojó un total de 273 artículos, seleccionándose 27 que cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión. La mayoría de los estudios fueron publicados en Asia, particularmente en India (n=21). Sólo 6 artículos declararon el número total de individuos, tipos de diente y de cortes histológicos, siendo el premolar el más estudiado. Apenas dos artículos evaluaron la calidad de la muestra a analizar mediante legibilidad de los cortes obtenidos. El test más empleado para evaluar la precisión del método fue el coeficiente de correlación de Pearson (n=21). Estos hallazgos exponen la alta heterogeneidad reportada en las metodologías de EE mediante conteo por TCA, por lo que aún no existe un proceso estandarizado que abarque todas sus etapas y entregue resultados confiables siguiendo los estándares jurídicos actuales para la evidencia científica. Un mayor control de las limitaciones técnicas detectadas aumentará el valor como prueba en un contexto identificatorio legal o forense.

SUMMARY: In the last decade, forensic odontology has focused on the development of age estimation (AE) methodologies due to the great request in identification processes. Among these techniques, the tooth cementum annulation (TCA) count method has offered promising but also contradictory results, raising questions about its accuracy and reliability. The aim of this work was to characterize, establish the scope, and identify the limitations of the TCA count method according to the current normative and methodological standards. A scoping review was carried out for TCA count methods for AE, including experimental studies and technical notes in the PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science (WoS) and Embase databases. The terms "estimation", "age" and "cementum" were used, with a complementary manual search in Google Scholar. Reviews, studies in archaeological collections, radiological studies and letters to the editor were excluded. The search yielded a total of 273 articles, selecting 27 of them that met the inclusion criteria. Most of the studies were published in Asia, particularly India (n=21). Only 6 articles declared the total number of individuals, types of teeth, and histological sections, with the premolar being the most studied. Only two articles evaluated the quality of the sample to be analyzed through the legibility of the cuts obtained. The most widely used test to assess the precision of the method was the Pearson correlation coefficient (n=21). These findings expose the high heterogeneity reported in EE methodologies by counting TCA, so there is still no standardized process that covers in all its stages and delivers reliable results following current legal standards for scientific evidence. More control of the detected technical limitations will increase the value as evidence in a legal or forensic identification context.

Age estimation by evaluation of obliteration of the palatine sutures: a scoping review.

The age estimation (AE) of human remains is a challenging task since it is dependent on the state in which these remains are found. Since the macroscopic evaluation of palatal sutures has been proposed as a method for AE, the aim of this study was to review the literature on this method, considering that the cases of edentulous elderly are among the greatest challenges in anthropological and forensic contexts. A scoping review was performed using a specific search strategy in PubMed, Web of Science, SciELO, LILACS, and Google Scholar. The search identified 13 articles, among which the USA yielded the most information with 3 articles. Only 1 study was identified in Latin America (Peru). There was great diversity regarding the origin of samples, and the studies were carried out on both historical and modern populations. Only 6 articles exceeded the average sample size (168.08) and 4 articles studied samples of fewer than 100 individuals. Although 6 different methods were identified, Mann et al.'s revised method was the most used. The selection of appropriate methods for AE depends on what skeletal elements are present and the general age of the specimens. Although evaluation of the obliteration of the palatal sutures has been found to be simple and promising for AE in individuals over 60 years of age, this method has been reported to have less precision than other more complex methods, which makes the use of a combination of methods necessary to increase the level of confidence and the percentage of success. Further research could resolve this weakness, and methodological refinement (perhaps the digitization and automation of processes, or the application of Bayesian methodology) could provide the necessary solidity to comply with international standards in the forensic scenario.

Cameriere's open apices methodology for dental age estimation in children: a scoping review from a Latin American perspective.

Dental age estimation (DAE) is key to establishing an individual's identity, and this is relevant in minors. A widely used method for DAE in children is Cameriere's open apices (CAM). Despite its wide dissemination, there are no clear reports of its use in Latin American populations. A scoping review was conducted using a search strategy in the PubMed/MEDLINE database, Web of Science, and a complementary manual search. Only papers using CAM or its regression equation models for evaluating Latin American populations were included. Ten studies published between 2007 and 2020 responded to the search objective. Brazil was the country with the most studies using CAM (7/10), and the University of Macerata (Italy) was the most declared affiliation (6/10). Seven studies used the original CAM formula in populations from Brazil and Peru, while the European formula (EuCAM) was applied in Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil. Although the method underestimated the age values with acceptable error margins, the correction factor substantially improved the predictive power of the method. Some limitations of the method are highlighted. CAM and its variants can be useful for validation in Latin American settings, but attention to population structures and terminologies is suggested for future research.

Forensic odontology: Wrong convictions, "bad apples" and "the innocence files".

Forensic odontology (FO) provides expert testimony; however, new criticism has identified FO as one of the fields that must strengthen its scientific foundations. The recent Netflix documentary titled "The Innocence Files", featuring wrongful convictions, dedicates three of its nine episodes almost exclusively to bite mark identification (BMI), one of the most questioned tests performed by FO. Although most of the FO fields have an undoubted utility in forensic and juridical context, only BMI has been questioned in recent years; the derogatory expression "Junk science" is used continuously in the documentary almost as a synonym for FO. We present a scoping review of cases reported in the US National Registry of Exonerations in which FO was false or misleading forensic evidence (F/MFE) leading to wrongful convictions. Although in the 26 cases identified the only declared F/MFE was the BMI (excluding any other type of dental expertise), only in 2 cases (7.69%) was F/MFE the sole contributing factor, and in 4 cases (15.38%) there was F/MFE plus three additional factors. Official misconduct was detected in 19 cases (73.08%) and perjury or false accusation in 16 cases (61.54%). It has already been mentioned how dangerous it is to consider FO as synonymous with "bite mark identification", or even to publicly provide incorrect or decontextualized information. This review shows that erroneous convictions have been exclusively in the field of BMI, and that FO encompasses much more than just BMI. The relationship between the media and forensic sciences has been strained. The perspective of the new culture of risk management in forensics is also discussed.

Tiempo empleado para estimar edad dental en niños peruanos comparando el método de Demirjian y el cuadro integral del enfoque de Demirjian: un estudio piloto / Time spent to estimate dental age in peruvian children comparing the demirjian method and the comprehensive chart based on demirjian method: a pilot study

El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar el tiempo empleado al estimar la edad dental (ED) entre el método propuesto por Demirjian et al. y el cuadro integral del enfoque de Demirjian (DAEcc) utilizando radiografías panorámicas digitales de individuos peruanos de 5 a 13 años residentes en Lima. Se realizó un estudio no experimental, comparativo, transversal y retrospectivo. Se utilizaron 100 radiografías panorámicas digitales que presentaban siete dientes permanentes mandibulares izquierdos. Una odontóloga forense capacitada y calibrada determinó el tiempo utilizado en evaluar la maduración dental y la estimación de ED con dos métodos (Demirjian y DAEcc). La unidad de medida utilizada fue los minutos (min.). No hubo diferencias en el tiempo de evaluación del estadio de maduración dental entre ambos métodos (p<0,05). El tiempo para estimar ED fue estadísticamente inferior con DAEcc (2,09 min) que con Demirjian (4,19 min). La diferencia del tiempo total de evaluación resultó estadísticamente significativa entre ambos métodos (Δ2,1 min.; 2,05-2,11; p=0,000). La aplicación del DAEcc redujo en 50 % el tiempo empleado en estimar ED en comparación con los cuadros propuestos por Demirjian. Aunque la odontología forense se centra en el estudio de la eficacia de estimación de la edad, es necesario abordar también su uso práctico.

SUMMARY: The objective of this study was to compare the time used to estimate dental age (DA) between the method proposed by Demirjian et al., and the comprehensive chart for dental age estimation (DAEcc) using digital panoramic radiographs of Peruvian individuals aged 5 to 13 years residing in Lima. A non- experimental, comparative, cross-sectional and retrospective study was carried out. 100 digital panoramic radiographs showing seven mandibular left permanent teeth were used. A trained and calibrated forensic odontologist determined the time used to assess tooth maturation and DA estimation with two methods (Demirjian and DAEcc). The unit of measurement used was minutes (min.). There were no differences in the evaluation time of the dental maturation stage between both methods (p<0.05). The time spent to estimate DA was statistically less with DAEcc (2.09 min) than with Demirjian (4.19 min). The difference in total evaluation time was statistically significant between both methods (Δ2.1 min; 2.05-2.11; p=0.000).The application of DAEcc reduced by 50 % the time spent estimating DA compared to the method proposed by Demirjian. Although forensic odontology focuses on the study of the effectiveness of age estimation, its practical use needs to be addressed as well.

Forensic odontology and dental age estimation research: a scoping review a decade after the NAS report on strengthening forensic science.

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.

Undergraduate dental students and their potential role in disaster victim identification procedures: A scoping review under a Chilean perspective.

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. As 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 recognised 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. Furthermore, it should align with public policies to ensure viability and inclusion in standardised 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.

Digital Reconstructions Using Linear Regression: How Well Can It Estimate Missing Shape Data from Small Damaged Areas?

Skeletal remains analyzed by anthropologists, paleontologists and forensic scientists are usually found fragmented or incomplete. Accurate estimations of the original morphologies are a challenge for which several digital reconstruction methods have been proposed. In this study, the accuracy of reconstructing bones based on multiple linear regression (RM) was tested. A total of 150 digital models from complete zygomatics from recent past populations (European and African American) were studied using high-density geometric morphometrics. Some landmarks (i.e., 2, 3 and 6) were coded as missing to simulate incomplete zygomatics and the missing landmarks were estimated with RM. In the zygomatics, this simulated damage affects a few square centimeters or less. Finally, the predicted and original shape data were compared. The results indicate that the predicted landmark coordinates were significantly different from the original ones, although this difference was less than the difference between the original zygomatic and the mean zygomatic in the sample. The performance of the method was affected by the location and the number of missing landmarks, with decreasing accuracy with increasing damaged area. We conclude that RM can accurately estimate the original appearance of the zygomatics when the damage is small.

Under the lens: a report on global dental morphology modules / Bajo la lupa: un reporte sobre los módulos de morfología dental a nivel global

SUMMARY: Dental morphology (DM) is the first introduction of dental graduates towards the identification of tooth; hence it is an important component of the dental curriculum. Traditionally, it is taught by manual carving of wax blocks, but the limitations of this method have been highlighted. There is a need to adopt innovative teaching methodologies to invigorate the concepts of dental anatomy (DA) and reduce the stress in teaching and learning with a proposal in standardization of training methodologies worldwide. Methods: A three-phased project was designed with an aim to collect global data related to teaching dental morphology within the dental curriculum. One dental professional actively involved in university teaching of DM subject was invited from 11 countries. The present study involved compilation of data from phase 1 questionnaire responses, followed by its discussion and analysis, and generation of preliminary report. Results: It is universally acknowledged that acquiring dental morphology knowledge by dentists is a prerequisite before they commence clinical practice. Our data points that no uniformity in DA course modules exists throughout the world and globally the subject requires curriculum redesigning. Conclusions: Consensus should be achieved amongst academicians in DM teaching and learning context. Innovative and standardized DM modules with component of computer-based and remote learning techniques should also be introduced.

La morfología dental (MD) es el primer contacto de los estudiantes de odontología con la identificación del diente; por lo tanto, es un componente importante del plan de estudios de la carrera. Tradicionalmente, se enseña mediante el tallado manual de bloques de cera, pero se han destacado las limitaciones de este método. Existe la necesidad de adoptar metodologías de enseñanza innovadoras para dinamizar los conceptos de anatomía dental (AD) y reducir el estrés en la enseñanza y el aprendizaje con una propuesta de estandarización de metodologías de formación, a nivel mundial. Métodos: Se diseñó un proyecto de tres fases con el objetivo de recopilar datos globales relacionados con la enseñanza de la morfología dental dentro del plan de estudios dental. Se invitó a un profesional de la odontología de cada uno de 11 países que participa activamente en la enseñanza universitaria de la MD. Esto incluyó la recopilación de datos de las respuestas a un cuestionario en la fase 1, seguida de su discusión y análisis, y la generación de un informe preliminar. Resultados: Se reconoce universalmente que la adquisición de conocimientos de morfología dental por parte de los odontólogos es un requisito previo antes de comenzar la práctica clínica. Nuestros datos indican que no existe uniformidad en los módulos del curso de AD en todo el mundo, por lo que el tema requiere un rediseño del plan de estudios. Conclusiones: Debe lograrse consenso entre los académicos en el contexto de enseñanza y aprendizaje de MD. También se deben introducir módulos innovadores y estandarizados de MD con componentes de aprendizaje remoto y de base digital.

About the recent Chilean immigration phenomenon: a scoping review on radiographic methods for dental age estimation in children / Sobre el reciente fenómeno migratorio chileno: una revisión con búsqueda sistemática sobre métodos radiográficos para la estimación de edad dental en niños

SUMMARY: The objective of this review was to identify original studies describing radiographic methods for dental age estimation applied in Chilean children, considering that it is a country with a long history of natural disasters and it has shown an unprecedented increase in the number of migrants in recent years, with significant percentages of individuals under 18 years of age. A scoping review was carried out following the methodology for the Joanna Briggs Institute scoping reviews and PRISMA guidelines. A specific search strategy was implemented in PubMed/Medline database, with complementary use of the Google Scholar website searching for full articles in English and Spanish. Five documents responded to the search objective, of which only 3 were published in refereed journals. Two documents focused their study on the maturation of upper and lower third molars, one on the maturation of the second and lower third molars, and two documents on the maturation of the seven mandibular teeth according to classical methodologies. The scarce existing literature, the almost absence of validated methods for the Chilean population, as well as the reported mass immigration phenomenon make a new and profound scientific research approach necessary for the application of updated methods.

RESUMEN: El objetivo de esta revisión fue identificar estudios originales que describan métodos radiográficos para la estimación de la edad dental aplicados en niños chilenos, considerando que Chile es un país con una larga historia de desastres naturales y que ha mostrado un aumento sin precedentes en el número de inmigrantes en los últimos años, con porcentajes significativos de individuos menores de 18 años. Se llevó a cabo una revisión con búsqueda sistemática siguiendo la metodología del Instituto Joanna Briggs y las pautas PRISMA. Se implementó una estrategia de búsqueda específica en la base de datos PubMed/Medline, con uso complementario de Google Scholar, buscando artículos completos en inglés y español. Cinco documentos respondieron al objetivo de búsqueda, de los cuales solo 3 fueron publicados en revistas arbitradas. Dos documentos centraron su estudio en la maduración de los terceros molares superiores e inferiores, uno en la maduración de los segundos y terceros molares inferiores y dos documentos en la maduración de los siete dientes mandibulares según metodologías clásicas. La escasa literatura existente, la casi ausencia de métodos validados para la población chilena, así como el fenómeno de inmigración masiva reportado, hacen necesario un nuevo y profundo enfoque de investigación científica para la apli- cación de métodos actualizados.

Oral corpse messaging in drug trafficking victims: A scoping review.

The mouth plays an important role in the self-representation and its damage threatens psychological integrity and self-perception. There is literature that reports the mouth as an intentional source of harm in different contexts of violence and torture. Mutilations in drug trafficking contexts (as "corpse messaging") have been recommended as necessary for evaluation and analysis in medicolegal environment as they can guide investigations, even favoring the identification of the criminal group involved. A scoping review focused on lesions and oral signs configuring oral corpse messaging in victims of drug trafficking was carried out, which identified six patterns: a) genitals stuffed in the mouth; b) finger stuffed in mouth; c) 'Colombian necktie'; d) cutting out the tongue; e) the mouth is taped shut; and f) badges stuffed into the mouths. The meanings attributed to each of these oral corpse messaging, their historical contexts, and their diagnostic value in the drug trafficking scene in Latin America are discussed. The role that the forensic dentist can play during the medicolegal autopsy is also discussed.