LI, B.; TAE-GEON, K.; WU, X. ; HEE-MOON, K. ; KE-MING, Y. & XIU-PING, W.Model analysis of anatomical morphology changes of palatal rugae before and after orthodontic treatment. Int. J. Morphol., 35(4):1224Morphol., 35(4): -1229Morphol., 35(4): , 2017. SUMMARY:Model analysis was performed to identify palatal rugae anatomical morphology patterns, evaluate their individual-specific properties and stability before and after orthodontic treatments, and investigate their reliability in the use for individual identification from the perspective of forensic dentistry. Maxillary models of 70 patients were collected before and after orthodontic treatments, palatine images were taken under standard conditions. Pattern-based individual identification was performed through measuring some indices including changes in number, orientation, shape, and length of palatal rugae, as well as mesial and distal endpoint displacement of palatal rugae in the anteroposterior (AP) and mesiodistal (MD) direction. At the same time, maxillary models of 10 patients were randomly selected for individuality confirmation and the average rate of correct matches was calculated. palatal rugae anatomical morphology patterns were highly individual-specific. Palatine of the same pattern were not found before or after orthodontic treatment. Model-based analysis confirmed the high individual-specificity properties of the palatal rugae anatomical morphology patterns, and also showed that the incidence of any morphological change in the patterns after orthodontic treatment was 45.7 % for anteroposterior displacement of the distal endpoint of palatal rugae, 40 % for mesiodistal displacement of the distal endpoint of palatine, 32.9 % for anteroposterior displacement of the mesial endpoint of palatal rugae, and 17.1 % for mesiodistal displacement of the mesial endpoint of palatal rugae. The incidence of change in length, orientation and shape of palatine after orthodontic treatment was 28.6 %, 1.4 % and 1.4 % respectively; and the incidence of palatal segmentation and unification after orthodontic treatment was 4.3 % and 2.9 % respectively. The mean percentage of correct matches of the palatine patterns after orthodontic treatment to their duplicates was 99.05 % and the mean percentage of correct matches of the palatine patterns between before and after orthodontic treatment was 92.19 %. Palatal rugae anatomical morphology patterns are unique to each individual. After orthodontic treatment, palatal rugae have diverse presentation patterns. Although the diverse palatine patterns to a certain degree, influence individual identification in the field of forensic identification, palatal rugae patterns can be used as a novel method for individual identification in forensic dentistry.

LI, B.; XIU-PING, W.; HONG-SHANGGUAN; WU, X. & KE-MING, Y.Morphology and volume of maxillary canine pulp cavity for individual age estimation in forensic dentistry. Int. J. Morphol., 35(3):1058Morphol., 35(3): -1062Morphol., 35(3): , 2017. SUMMARY:Age estimation plays a very important role in individual recognition in forensic dentistry. Morphological data of 3D pulp cavity of maxillary canines were acquired by oral and craniofacial CT scans. In accordance with inclusion criteria, CT data of 103 patients (51 males and 52 females) were collected at the Department of Radiology, Stomatological Hospital, Shanxi Medical University, China from September 2015 to August 2016. Mimics 17.0 software was used to measure pulp volume of maxillary canines and tooth volume, and to calculate the ratio of pulp volume/tooth volume. SPSS 16.0 software was utilized to analyze and establish database. Linear regression analysis was applied to process data and to establish a linear regression equation for individual age: Y=69.137-621.200 (pulp volume/tooth volume), R=0.544. Subjects were grouped according to gender, deriving the inferred function of male age: Y=64.333-468.811 (pulp volume/tooth volume), R=0.435; the inferred function of female age: Y=76.445-843.186 (pulp volume/tooth volume), R=0.691. The ratio of pulp volume to tooth volume can be used to infer individual age, and can provide a new method and pathway for individual recognition in forensic dentistry.