A study of composite restorations as a tool in forensic identification

Abstract

Introduction:Comparing ante-mortem and post-mortem dental data is a principal method of identification in forensic odontology. Radiographic images of amalgam have been used in dental forensics for identification due to their unique appearance.Aim:The aim of this study was to investigate whether radio-opaque composite restorations have a potential for identification in forensic odontology.Materials and Methods:Thirty typodont mandibular first molar teeth were prepared with Class-II (proximo-occlusal) cavities and restored with a radio-opaque composite (Tetric N-Ceram). Two sets of standardized radiographs were taken from the 30 teeth, keeping the radiological parameters constant. One set of these 30 radiographs was named as SET 1. Ten randomly chosen radiographs from the other set and two other radiographs of Class-II composite restorations in typodont teeth constituted SET 2. Thirty dentally trained examiners were asked to match the 12 radiographic images of SET 2 with those of SET 1.Results:The results show that 15 examiners were able to correctly match all the 12 images. Statistical analysis was done using kappa statistical test.Conclusion:This study shows that, if the post-mortem radiographs are accurate duplicates of ante-mortem radiographs of composite restorations, then the shape of the composite restoration is unique and can be used for identification.

Dental Evidence in Forensic Identification – An Overview, Methodology and Present Status

“…Dental restorations sometimes may indicate the ethnicity of the individual [ 39 ], methods of restorations in certain countries or regions may be unique and may not be used at any other place. The use of expensive restorations may also suggest social and economic status of an individual [ 40 ].…”

Forensic pediatric dentistry

“…Radiographic interpretation of individual restorations will help in identification. [16] Undoubtedly, individuals with numerous and complex restorations are often easier to identify using electrical conductance measurement, fiber-optic transillumination, quantitative laser-induced fluorescence device, and DIAGNOdent than those individuals with little or no restoration. [17] Restorations play an important role to aid in the identification process, as various restorative materials have varying resistance to high temperatures.…”

Descripción de los cambios macroscópicos de discos de resina compuesta sometidos a altas temperaturas con fines forenses

“…Restos cremados) 12 , que los odontólogos son llamados a asistir y guiar la identificación de individuos en las tres últimas categorías, mediante la comparación de los registros postmortem con la historia clínica odontoló-gica antemortem. Por lo general, estas comparaciones o cotejos se realizan a partir de tratamientos odontológicos como restauraciones protésicas y obturaciones, dada la gran resistencia que tienen los tejidos dentales y los materiales de uso odontológico -incluidas las obturaciones realizadas con resinas compuestas-5, [13][14][15] . En general, al ser sometidos a altas temperaturas, los materiales de uso odontológico (incluidas las resinas compuestas) pueden sufrir cambios en color, textura, fisuras y grietas, fracturas, estabilidad dimensional y estallido.…”

“…Since the use of composite resins as restorative materials in dental cavities -regarding dental amalgam-has been increasing in recent decades 24 , as they play a critical role in the identification process providing a greater number of matching markers during the antemortem-postmortem forensic correlations 25 , and because they are highly resistant to high temperatures [7][8][9][10] , the purpose of this study was to establish in-vitro parameters on the behavior of five commercial composite resin systems at high temperatures, allowing forensic experts to determine that it is actually a composite resin and not another dental material based on specific macrostructural changes in each temperature range, which may constitute evidence markers to eventually contribute to the process of forensic dental identification in the case of or burned, charred, or incinerated corpses of human remains.…”