Testing the Olze and Timme Methods for Dental Age Estimation in Radiographs of Brazilian Subadults and Adults.

AIM: This study aimed to test the applicability of the methods proposed by Olze et al. (2012) and Timme et al. for dental age estimation in Brazilian subadults and adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Panoramic radiographs of 503 individuals aged between 20 and 70 years were analyzed. The mean chronological age of males and females of the sample was 29.04 and 29.97 years, receptively. Secondary dentin formation, cementum apposition, periodontal recession, and attrition of teeth #34, #35, #44 and #45 teeth were assessed as parameters to be calculated in the formulae designed by Olze et al. and Timme et al. RESULTS: In males, the mean estimated age by the Olze method was 28.97 ± 2.86 years, while in females it was 27.85 ± 2.70 years. The Timme method estimated mean age for males of 32.54 ± 5.32 years and for females 33.09 ± 5.16 years. Low coefficients of determination (r2) for the application of tooth-specific formulae of both methods suggest that estimated and chronological ages were not properly associated. CONCLUSION: The outcomes of this study indicate that the Olze and Timme methods may be limited for forensic applications in Brazilian subadults and adults. Country-specific statistical adjustments might be useful for improvements in practice.

Mandibular Measurements for Sex and Age Estimation in Brazilian Sampling.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to evaluate the possibility of sex and age estimation in a Brazilian sample, using the following five mandibular measurements: coronoid height, gonial angle, bigonial distance, ramus height, maximum length. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 103 mandibles were measured, 53 female and 50 male, grouped according to the age in 5 different groups. Two different observers performed all these measurements. For statistical analysis, one-way ANOVA was used with a significance level of 5% to verify if the mandibular measurements were related to age. The Student t-test was used for comparisons between the sex samples. Eighty three samples were used to develop a logistic regression model. The intra-observer and inter-observer differences were evaluated using the Kappa coefficient. RESULTS: The sex differences were statistically significant in all the variables, and all of them were larger in men, apart from the variable related to the gonial angle (GA), which was larger in women. For the logistic regression formula, the variables used were: bigonial distance and mandibular ramus, with 90% accuracy. For age, the measurements did not show a pattern. The inter and intra-observer values were greater than 0.85. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, it is possible to estimate sex using mandibular measurements, but it is not recommended to use these measurements for age estimation.

Dental Age Estimation based on Development Dental Atlas Assessment in a Child/Adolescent Population with Systemic Diseases.

BACKGROUND: Forensic estimation of chronological age has played an increasingly important role as part of cadaver identification, and also in living individuals due to the phenomenon of immigration and sexual abuse of undocumented trafficked children. OBJECTIVE: This research aimed to validate the already used dental mineralization and eruption atlas in normal children and adolescent population in estimating chronological age in a young population, particularly those with special needs, majority of them with systemic diseases. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: A sample of 163 orthopantomograms from two independent medical institutions was collected from 133 patients aged between 4 and 23 years. METHOD: The orthopantomograms were divided into two groups, 95 from patients with systemic pathologies that have repercussions on dental development and 68 with systemic pathologies without dental repercussions. Dental ages were estimated by the London Atlas using the left side and then independently the right side of the maxilla. The intraobserver and interobserver agreements were evaluated. The difference between dental age estimates and the chronological age and its absolute value were calculated and analyzed. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found between estimates and chronological age, revealing a general prevalence for underestimation; except for those under the age of 12. Nevertheless, the underestimation in individuals under the age of 16 was not significant (with an average of less than one month), while the underestimation was significant for persons who were at least 16 years old (with an average over 26 months). Furthermore, for those persons with systemic diseases with dental repercussions a greater error in underestimation was obtained, which indicates that the midpoint values should be reassessed in persons with Down's syndrome, chromosomal alterations, syndromes and central nervous system disorders. CONCLUSIONS: This atlas can be potentially used as a tool for age estimation in a population with special needs and, also, in a population with systemic diseases, but we suggest further studies with larger international samples to create adequate atlases for all the required scenarios, mainly, diagrams for people with systemic diseases who are over the age of 16.

Correction to: Can in vivo surface dental enamel microbiopsies be used to measure remote lead exposure?

To accomplish the aim A, lead from 90 bovine incisor crowns was determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer as a function of exposure time and lead concentration.

Avaliação penal de lesões dentais por peritos odontolegistas de Instituto Médico Legal - Brasil / Evaluación penal de lesiones dentales por expertos odontolegistas de Instituto Médico Legal - Brasil / Assessment of dental injuries by forensic odontology experts from the Legal Medicine Institute, Brazil

Introdução: o Código Penal Brasileiro tipifica, em seu artigo 129, o crime de lesão corporal como sendo a ofensa à integridade corporal ou a saúde de outrem. As penas previstas para este crime são graduadas de acordo com o resultado gerado pela lesão, sendo este estabelecido por meio do exame pericial requisitado pela autoridade competente. As lesões dentais são frequentes neste tipo de exame, sendo que as suas resultantes, expressas no Código Penal Brasileiro, são muito discutidas no âmbito pericial, existindo muitas divergências entre examinadores distintos. Objetivo: verificar a interpretação penal de lesões em dentes ântero-superiores por Peritos Oficiais Odontolegistas do Instituto Médico Legal Nina Rodrigues (Salvador, Bahia, Brasil). Métodos: foram analisados 2 738 laudos emitidos no período de janeiro de 2007 a dezembro de 2011, por estes peritos nesse intervalo de cinco anos. O critério de inclusão foi a descrição de acometimento de dente permanente na região ântero-superior e o critério de exclusão foi o não enquadramento com segurança em algum tipo de lesão especificada. A coleta de dados foi feita por um único indivíduo, o qual teve acesso aos laudos. As lesões dentais descritas nos laudos foram classificadas e codificadas, de forma a facilitar as anotações e os estudos estatísticos por meio do teste do Qui-Quadrado e teste Kappa (software R, versão 2.15.2, R Development Core Team, 2012) (p≥ 0,05). Resultados: dos 2 738 laudos, 277 atenderam os critérios de inclusão, em que 32,16 porcento descreviam fraturas dentais coronárias simples, 31,72 porcento como fraturas complexas e 36,12 porcento como avulsão. Os resultados obtidos apresentaram uma forte associação entre o perito examinador e a resultante penal estabelecida, na análise de lesões dentais. Conclusão: conclui-se que a avaliação penal das lesões dentais mostrou-se fortemente subjetiva, sendo necessários maiores estudos e discussões a respeito do tema, de forma a minimizar a subjetividade(AU)

Introducción: el Código Penal brasileño tipifica en su artículo 129, el delito de lesiones corporales como la ofensa a la integridad corporal o la salud de los demás. Las penas por este delito se clasifican de acuerdo con los resultados generados por la lesión, que se establece a través de un examen forense ordenado por la autoridad competente. Lesiones dentales son comunes en este tipo de examen, y del análisis de sus resultados a partir del Código Penal brasileño, es tema de frecuentes debates entre expertos forenses, con muchas divergencias entre los distintos examinadores. Objetivo: investigar la interpretación penal de las lesiones en los dientes anteriores superiores por expertos Oodontolegistas Oficial Forense Instituto Nina Rodrigues (Salvador, Bahia, Brasil). Métodos: se analizaron 2 738 informes emitidos entre enero de 2007 y diciembre de 2011, por los expertos en un intervalo de cinco años. El criterio de inclusión fue la descripción de la afectación de los dientes permanentes en la región anterior superior y el criterio de exclusión fue no haber implicación segura en algún tipo de lesión especificada. La reunión de datos fue hecha por un solo individuo, que tuvo acceso a los informes. Lesiones dentales que se describen en los informes fueron clasificadas y codificadas con el fin de facilitar las notas y estudios estadísticos mediante la prueba de chi cuadrado y la prueba de Kappa (software R, versión 2.15.2, Core Development Team R, 2012) (p≥ 0,05). Resultados: de los 2 738 informes, 277 cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión, en los cuales 32,16 por ciento describe fracturas dentales simples coronarias, 31,72 por ciento fracturas complejas y 36,12 por ciento como avulsión. Los resultados muestran una fuerte asociación entre el experto forense y criminal establecido que resulta en el análisis de las lesiones dentales. Conclusiones: se concluye que la evaluación penal de lesiones dentales era fuertemente subjetiva, lo que requiere más estudios y debates sobre el tema, con el fin de reducir al mínimo la subjetividad(AU)

Introduction: Article 129 of the Brazilian Penal Code defines the crime of bodily harm as damage to the physical integrity or the health of others. Penalties for this crime are graded in keeping with the consequences of the injury, determined by forensic examination indicated by the corresponding authority. Dental injuries are common in this type of examination, and analysis of results based on the Brazilian Penal Code is the object of frequent debate among forensic experts, with many divergences between the various examiners. Objective: Analyze the penal interpretation of injuries to upper front teeth provided by official forensic odontology experts from Nina Rodrigues Forensic Institute (Salvador, Bahia, Brazil). Methods: Analysis was conducted of 2 738 expert reports issued in the five-year period extending from January 2007 to December 2011. The inclusion criterion was description of injury to permanent upper front teeth, whereas the exclusion criterion was lack of certainty as to the consequences of the injury specified. Data were gathered by a single individual, who had access to the reports. The dental injuries described in the reports were classified and encoded to facilitate annotation and the performance of statistical studies based on chi-square estimation and the kappa test (R software version 2.15.2, R Core Development Team, 2012) (p≥ 0.05). Results: Of the 2 738 reports, 277 met the inclusion criterion. Of the injuries described therein, 32.16 percent were classified as simple dental crown fractures, 31.72 percent as complex fractures, and 36.12 percent as avulsions. Results show the close relationship between forensic experts and criminal investigators in the analysis of dental injuries. Conclusions: Penal assessment of dental injuries was markedly subjective, requiring further study and discussion to minimize such subjectivity(AU)

Avaliação penal de lesões dentais por peritos odontolegistas de Instituto Médico Legal - Brasil / Evaluación penal de lesiones dentales por expertos odontolegistas de Instituto Médico Legal - Brasil / Assessment of dental injuries by forensic odontology experts from the Legal Medicine Institute, Brazil

Introdução: o Código Penal Brasileiro tipifica, em seu artigo 129, o crime de lesão corporal como sendo a ofensa à integridade corporal ou a saúde de outrem. As penas previstas para este crime são graduadas de acordo com o resultado gerado pela lesão, sendo este estabelecido por meio do exame pericial requisitado pela autoridade competente. As lesões dentais são frequentes neste tipo de exame, sendo que as suas resultantes, expressas no Código Penal Brasileiro, são muito discutidas no âmbito pericial, existindo muitas divergências entre examinadores distintos. Objetivo: verificar a interpretação penal de lesões em dentes ântero-superiores por Peritos Oficiais Odontolegistas do Instituto Médico Legal Nina Rodrigues (Salvador, Bahia, Brasil). Métodos: foram analisados 2 738 laudos emitidos no período de janeiro de 2007 a dezembro de 2011, por estes peritos nesse intervalo de cinco anos. O critério de inclusão foi a descrição de acometimento de dente permanente na região ântero-superior e o critério de exclusão foi o não enquadramento com segurança em algum tipo de lesão especificada. A coleta de dados foi feita por um único indivíduo, o qual teve acesso aos laudos. As lesões dentais descritas nos laudos foram classificadas e codificadas, de forma a facilitar as anotações e os estudos estatísticos por meio do teste do Qui-Quadrado e teste Kappa (software R, versão 2.15.2, R Development Core Team, 2012) (p≥ 0,05). Resultados: dos 2 738 laudos, 277 atenderam os critérios de inclusão, em que 32,16 porcento descreviam fraturas dentais coronárias simples, 31,72 porcento como fraturas complexas e 36,12 porcento como avulsão. Os resultados obtidos apresentaram uma forte associação entre o perito examinador e a resultante penal estabelecida, na análise de lesões dentais. Conclusão: conclui-se que a avaliação penal das lesões dentais mostrou-se fortemente subjetiva, sendo necessários maiores estudos e discussões a respeito do tema, de forma a minimizar a subjetividade(AU)

Introducción: el Código Penal brasileño tipifica en su artículo 129, el delito de lesiones corporales como la ofensa a la integridad corporal o la salud de los demás. Las penas por este delito se clasifican de acuerdo con los resultados generados por la lesión, que se establece a través de un examen forense ordenado por la autoridad competente. Lesiones dentales son comunes en este tipo de examen, y del análisis de sus resultados a partir del Código Penal brasileño, es tema de frecuentes debates entre expertos forenses, con muchas divergencias entre los distintos examinadores. Objetivo: investigar la interpretación penal de las lesiones en los dientes anteriores superiores por expertos Oodontolegistas Oficial Forense Instituto Nina Rodrigues (Salvador, Bahia, Brasil). Métodos: se analizaron 2 738 informes emitidos entre enero de 2007 y diciembre de 2011, por los expertos en un intervalo de cinco años. El criterio de inclusión fue la descripción de la afectación de los dientes permanentes en la región anterior superior y el criterio de exclusión fue no haber implicación segura en algún tipo de lesión especificada. La reunión de datos fue hecha por un solo individuo, que tuvo acceso a los informes. Lesiones dentales que se describen en los informes fueron clasificadas y codificadas con el fin de facilitar las notas y estudios estadísticos mediante la prueba de chi cuadrado y la prueba de Kappa (software R, versión 2.15.2, Core Development Team R, 2012) (p≥ 0,05). Resultados: de los 2 738 informes, 277 cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión, en los cuales 32,16 por ciento describe fracturas dentales simples coronarias, 31,72 por ciento fracturas complejas y 36,12 por ciento como avulsión. Los resultados muestran una fuerte asociación entre el experto forense y criminal establecido que resulta en el análisis de las lesiones dentales. Conclusiones: se concluye que la evaluación penal de lesiones dentales era fuertemente subjetiva, lo que requiere más estudios y debates sobre el tema, con el fin de reducir al mínimo la subjetividad(AU)

Introduction: Article 129 of the Brazilian Penal Code defines the crime of bodily harm as damage to the physical integrity or the health of others. Penalties for this crime are graded in keeping with the consequences of the injury, determined by forensic examination indicated by the corresponding authority. Dental injuries are common in this type of examination, and analysis of results based on the Brazilian Penal Code is the object of frequent debate among forensic experts, with many divergences between the various examiners. Objective: Analyze the penal interpretation of injuries to upper front teeth provided by official forensic odontology experts from Nina Rodrigues Forensic Institute (Salvador, Bahia, Brazil). Methods: Analysis was conducted of 2 738 expert reports issued in the five-year period extending from January 2007 to December 2011. The inclusion criterion was description of injury to permanent upper front teeth, whereas the exclusion criterion was lack of certainty as to the consequences of the injury specified. Data were gathered by a single individual, who had access to the reports. The dental injuries described in the reports were classified and encoded to facilitate annotation and the performance of statistical studies based on chi-square estimation and the kappa test (R software version 2.15.2, R Core Development Team, 2012) (p≥ 0.05). Results: Of the 2 738 reports, 277 met the inclusion criterion. Of the injuries described therein, 32.16 percent were classified as simple dental crown fractures, 31.72 percent as complex fractures, and 36.12 percent as avulsions. Results show the close relationship between forensic experts and criminal investigators in the analysis of dental injuries. Conclusions: Penal assessment of dental injuries was markedly subjective, requiring further study and discussion to minimize such subjectivity(AU)

Color stability of dental restorative materials submitted to cold temperatures for forensic purposes.

In the post-mortem examination of the dental arches of accident victims in cold locations, dental restorative materials can be found. Cold temperatures can be capable of causing color changes of aesthetic materials, such as composite resin (CR) and glass ionomer cement (GIC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the cold action on the color stability of CR and GIC restorations, in order to discriminate them and enable the adequate comparison between antemortem and post-mortem data. Sixty bovine teeth (30 CR and 30 GIC) were prepared (6 × 6 × 2 mm) and separated into groups (n = 10). The color readouts were taken by a portable spectrophotometer, before and after of cold action (2.5 °C, -20 °C, -80 °C) inside of freezers. There were color alterations in the coordinates (ΔE, ΔL∗, Δa∗ e Δb∗) for both materials. The authors concluded that cold was capable of producing changes in color in the two esthetic materials, with similar intensities between the two, at all the temperatures studied, when analyzed at 7 days. After being submitted to cold for 30 days, the changes were more significant for CR, allowing it to be differentiated from GIC after 30 days, at all the temperatures tested. Therefore, the test proposed in the study was shown to be practical, feasible and capable of helping Forensic Odontology with the identification of victims.

Color Stability of Dental Restorative Materials Submitted to Heat Sources, for Forensic Purposes.

During postmortem examination of the dental arches of carbonized victims, dental restorative materials may be found. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of heat source action on the color stability of composite resin (CR) and glass ionomer cement (GIC) restorations, to discriminate between them and compare with antemortem dental data. Sixty bovine teeth (30 CR and 30 GIC) were prepared (6 × 6 × 2 mm) and separated into groups (n = 10). The color readouts were taken by spectrophotometer, before and after heat action (100°C, 200°C, 300°C), in an oven for 15 min. There were color alterations for all coordinates (ΔE, ΔL*, Δa* eΔb*) for both materials. GIC presented greater change. The authors concluded that it is possible to distinguish between the materials by the color changes analyzed by instrumental method, helping victim identification.

Sex Determination of Adult Human Maxillary Sinuses on Panoramic Radiographs.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate dimensions of adult human maxillary sinuses on panoramic radiographs and their possible application on the sex determination for forensic purposes. The sample comprised 64 database panoramic radiographs from individuals aged 20 years or older (32 male and 32 female subjects), with complete permanent dentition (or absence of third molars). One examiner measured the width and height of the right and left maxillary sinuses using the software Image J 1.47v (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA). Measurements were repeated to calculate intra-observer agreement. Chi-Square test, Kappa, ANOVA and T-Student were used for results analysis for p≤ 0.05. Intra-observer agreement with correlation Kappa ranged between 0.38 and 0.96. For female subjects, the mean height and width of the left maxillary sinus were 28.7856mm and 44.6178mm, respectively. And right maxillary sinus was 27.7163mm for height and 45.1850mm for width. Male subjects were found to have the mean height and width of the left maxillary sinus 30.9981mm and 48.7753mm, respectively. And right maxillary sinus was 30.7403mm for height and 48.5753mm for width. There was a statistically significant difference in the height and width of maxillary sinuses between males and females. It can be concluded that maxillary sinuses height and width on panoramic radiographs can be used to determine the gender of adult human subjects.

Sexual dimorphism in Brazilian human skulls: discriminant function analysis.

Many anthropological studies have shown that sex can be determined using the human skeleton, especially by examining the pelvis and skull. The aim of this study was to verify the presence of sexual dimorphism in the Brazilian population by craniometric analysis; to identify the most reliable measurements and to propose a discriminant function for sex determination. The selected sample was composed of 100 adult skulls, 50 male and 50 female, from Cuiabá city, Mato Grosso State, Brazil. Of all the measurements taken, only the difference between the bi-euryon distances has proven insignificant, while themost dimorphic measure was the bi-zygomatic diameter. A discriminant function was obtained by applying the bi-zygomatic and the basion-lambda measurements, with a confidence level of 72%. The authors concluded that most of the traits analyzed are sexually dimorphic and the discriminant function elaborated is reliable for sex determination in human identification for forensic purposes.