Black male, 19: Brazilian "criminal commando" and the breach of human rights / Homem negro, 19 anos: o "comando criminoso" brasileiro e a violação dos direitos humanos

Dental age estimation is a technical procedure performed to support Court decisions in cases of legal liability, clandestine migration, sexual abuse, and several other applications. This study reports a case of an undocumented individuals that was originally identified by the criminal legal system (without a previous civil identity). In his identity records, a name was given: "Black male, 19" ­ indicating his population affinity (African), sex (male) and age (19 years). His body was found decapitated and referred to the medicolegal institute. The dental examination highlighted the presence of a third molar in the very early stage (») of root formation. Age was estimated using five methods based on dental development (the methods of Schour and Massler [1941], Moorrees et al. [1963], Anderson et al. [1976], London Atlas [2010], and Blenkin and Taylor [2012]). All the methods indicated that the individual was a minor, within the range between 14.5 and 15.5 years. This study highlights the importance of assigning adequate personnel to technical tasks in the police/forensic routine in order to safeguard human rights

A estimativa da idade dentária é um procedimento técnico realizado para apoiar decisões judiciais em casos de responsabilidade legal, migração clandestina, abuso sexual e diversas outras aplicações. Este estudo relata o caso de um indivíduo indocumentado que foi originalmente identificado pelo sistema penal (sem identidade civil prévia). Nos seus registos de identidade foi atribuído um nome: "Homem negro, 19 anos" ­ indicando a sua afinidade populacional (africana), sexo (masculino) e idade (19 anos). Seu corpo foi encontrado decapitado e encaminhado a um Instituto Médico-legal. O exame odontológico evidenciou a presença de um terceiro molar em fase muito inicial (») de formação radicular. A idade foi estimada usando cinco métodos baseados no desenvolvimento dentário (os métodos de Schour e Massler [1941], Moorrees et al. [1963], Anderson et al. [1976], London Atlas [2010] e Blenkin e Taylor [2012]). Todos os métodos indicaram que o indivíduo era menor de idade, na faixa entre 14,5 e 15,5 anos. Este estudo destaca a importância de designar pessoal adequado para tarefas técnicas na rotina policial/forense, a fim de salvaguardar os direitos humanos

Quando um remanescente de guta-percha é decisivo na identificação humana: relato de caso pericial / When gutta-percha residual is decisive in human identification: case report

A Odontologia Legal é a especialidade responsável por esclarecer demandas administrativas ou judiciais provenientes de diferentes esferas. Na esfera criminal, o processo de identificação humana engloba um conjunto de procedimentos que visam individualizar uma pessoa e, em diversas situações, a Odontologia Legal se destaca como um importante método de identificação humana. O objetivo desse trabalho foi apresentar um relato de caso em que a presença de um remanescente de guta-percha foi decisiva no processo de identificação humana. Após exame necroscópico em um cadáver e com a entrega do prontuário odontológico, foi realizada a comparação das informações recebidas do suspeito com aquelas coletadas no exame post mortem. Por meio dessa comparação, verificou-se que havia pontos coincidentes que permitiram que a identificação positiva da vítima fosse estabelecida, especialmente a presença, tanto no exame ante mortem quanto no post mortem, de um remanescente de guta-percha envolto por tecido cicatricial ósseo na região do dente 21. Os materiais dentários utilizados em procedimentos odontológicos, tais como o remanescente de guta-percha neste relato de caso pericial, são extremamente valiosos no processo de identificação humana

Forensic Dentistry is the specialty responsible for clarifying administrative or judicial demands from different spheres. In the criminal sphere, the human identification process encompasses a set of procedures that aim to individualize a person and, in several situations, and Forensic Dentistry stands out as an important method in human identification. The objective was to present a case report in which the presence of a gutta-percha remnant was important in the human identification process. After necroscopic examination and delivery of the dental records, the information received from the suspect was compared with that collected in the post mortem examination. Through this comparison, it was verified that there were coincident points that allowed the positive identification of the victim, especially the presence, both in the ante-mortem and in the post-mortem examination, of a gutta-percha remnant surrounded by bone scar tissue in the tooth region 21. Materials used in dental procedures, such as the gutta-percha remnant in this forensic case report, are extremely valuable in the human identification process

Identification of a Carbonized Body Using Implanted Surgical Plates: The Importance of Computed Tomography.

In addition to clinical examination, forensic odontologists can use diagnostic imaging as an auxiliary method for identification. This paper reports a case where forensic odontologists from the Afrânio Peixoto Legal Medicine Institute in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) positively identified a carbonized and partially calcined body using oral and maxillofacial imaging. The cadaver showed several metallic plates fixed with metallic screws on bones of the neurocranium and viscerocranium. Family members provided spiral computed tomography scans of the skull and a panoramic radiograph that were acquired after an accident that required surgical procedures. Comparative analysis between the clinical exam and the maxillofacial images demonstrated complete coincidence, confirming the victim's identity. Dactyloscopy, which is the most commonly used method of identification, was not possible because of the body carbonization. Thus, diagnostic imaging, especially computed tomography, was essential for elucidation of this case.

Oral lichen planus: study of 21 cases.

BACKGROUND: Lichen planus is considered to be the most common dermatological disease involving the oral mucosa. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the profile, clinical features, and the presence of dysplasia and candidiasis in patients with oral lichen planus. METHODS: A total of 21 patients were selected from 258 patients at risk for oral cancer development. RESULTS: Most of the patients were white (76,2%), female (66,6%), with mean age of 58.8 years. Eight were smokers and seven were alcohol consumers. The buccal mucosa was the most affected site, followed by the tongue and the gingiva. The reticular pattern was the most common appearance. Histopathology depicted dysplasia in nine cases and cytopathology was positive for Candida in eight cases in the first appointment. CONCLUSION: Our data are similar to the literature. Cytopathology was important for the diagnosis of candidiasis. Although the presence of dysplasia was verified, further studies are necessary to clarify the importance of this finding.

Oral lichen planus: study of 21 cases

Abstract BACKGROUND: Lichen planus is considered to be the most common dermatological disease involving the oral mucosa. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the profile, clinical features, and the presence of dysplasia and candidiasis in patients with oral lichen planus. METHODS: A total of 21 patients were selected from 258 patients at risk for oral cancer development. RESULTS: Most of the patients were white (76,2%), female (66,6%), with mean age of 58.8 years. Eight were smokers and seven were alcohol consumers. The buccal mucosa was the most affected site, followed by the tongue and the gingiva. The reticular pattern was the most common appearance. Histopathology depicted dysplasia in nine cases and cytopathology was positive for Candida in eight cases in the first appointment. CONCLUSION: Our data are similar to the literature. Cytopathology was important for the diagnosis of candidiasis. Although the presence of dysplasia was verified, further studies are necessary to clarify the importance of this finding. .