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Technical note: Intra-alveolar morphology assessed in empty dental sockets of teeth missing post-mortem
Lucas Raineri Capeletti1, Ademir Franco2, Rogério Vieira Reges3
1Department of Dentistry, Federal University of Goiás, Brazil.
Forensic Science International
|June 27, 2017
Summary
Forensic dentists can recover post-mortem (PM) dental data from empty sockets. Impression techniques for intra-alveolar morphology offer valuable information for human identification when teeth are missing.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Odontology
- Human Identification
- Dental Impression Materials
Background:
- Dental identification relies on comparing ante-mortem (AM) and post-mortem (PM) records.
- Teeth can be lost during evidence handling, complicating identification.
- Distinctive dental root traits (e.g., dilacerations, bifurcations) are crucial but may be unavailable.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate methods for retrieving PM dental information from empty sockets.
- To investigate the utility of intra-alveolar morphology impressions for human identification.
Main Methods:
- Six intra-alveolar impression techniques were tested on a dry human skull.
- Materials included alginate, heavy-body condensation silicone (HBCS), and polyether.
- Techniques were assessed on intra-alveolar flow, apical morphology registration, tensile strength, complexity, and cost.
Main Results:
- Techniques using HBCS with a blunt tip probe (#3) and manual compression (#2) yielded the best cost-benefit outcomes.
- HBCS with a syringe and dental tray (#5) and polyether (#6) also showed promise.
- Alginate (#1) and HBCS with a dental tray (#4) were deemed unsatisfactory for forensic use.
Conclusions:
- Intra-alveolar morphology impressions can provide valuable PM dental information even without teeth.
- Specific impression techniques, particularly #3 and #2, are effective for this purpose.
- Forensic dentists should consider impressioning empty sockets as a routine identification method.
