Indian Journal of Forensic Odontology

Abstracts
Teeth are in excellent material in living and non-living populations for anthropological, gentic, odontologic and forensic investigations. Some times, only teeth are brought for forensic examination. So determination of stature from the teeth is an important aspect in establishing identity in such cases. The aim of the present study was to estimate the stature from Mesiodistal, bucco-lingual dimension’s of maxillary and mandibular teeth in a sample of 407 adolescents from North India. As a part of Indian cast system, mostly North Indian are an endogamous group. Along with stature, Mesiodistal and buccolingual diameter’s of maxillary or mandibular teeth were taken on each subject. The finding suggest that all the cephalo-facial measurements are significantly correlated with stature (P<0.01, p <0.001); the measurements of Mesiodistal Diameter of total maxillary have strong correlation with stature than other teeth dimension’s. This was also supported by the regression analysis, which shows that Mesiodistal Diameter of all teeth of maxillary arch measurements give better prediction of stature. Reliability of the regression formulae was checked by comparing the estimated and actual stature within the same sample and in another sample taken from a mixed population of North India.

Key words: Forensic odontology, stature estimation, teethdimension, bucco-lingual, mesio-distal.

Abstract

The teeth are frequently better preserved than other material, their use for identification of an individual’s age at death is very important. Dental aging received considerable attention within forensic odontology. Kilian’s method is based on the subjective evaluation of six markers: the degree of attrition, the secondary dentine, the secondary cementum, the resorption, the transparency and the position of epithelial attachment. Kashyap and Koteswara Rao’s method is based on the quantitative evaluation of four markers: the abrasion, the secondary dentine, the secondary cementum and the transparency. Rai B et al method is based on the quantitative evaluation of five markers. Our research is based on the confrontation of modification of Gustafson’s aging method with using three markers: secondary dentine, secondary cementum, transparency and made the regression equations for age determination of Indian population. Our results of age estimation were obtained using the Gustafson’s aging method and Kilian’s method after multiple regression equation of all studied applied (absolute mean error of estimation 4.95 years – 95% CI + 2.04).

Key Words Three markers, Physiological, Age, Regression equation 

The advent of DNA typing has revolutionized law enforcement. The identification of dead bodies in mass casualties has been a Herculean task since time immemorial. Fatal crash of civil or military airliners generally leaves numerous unidentified bodies. Despite the fact that the inner of the teeth is relatively protected against external influence, the DNA of the pulpal tissue can be harmed so much that the DNA analysis are made impossible. Studies have shown that the dentine is a good source of mitochondrial DNA (mt DNA) and mitochondrial DNA presents several advantages compared to nuclear DNA (nu DNA),when teeth are used for identification purposes There are indications of presence of heteroplasmy in mitochondrial DNA. This may have an impact on the interpretation of the analysis of results. This paper is aimed to review the applications of Mitochondrial DNA in Forensic Odontology.

Background
All organisms are either multi-cellular or unicellular. A single eukaryotic (protista, fungus, plant, animal) cell is comprised of multiple membrane-bound organelles. The nucleus is an organelle in eukaryotes which houses the primary genetic material (DNA) and mitochondria are organelles which are responsible for cellular respiration (ATP production). Mitochondria have a double membrane, cristae (folds), a matrix, and their own DNA. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) codes for proteins and enzymes used by the mitochondria. Nuclear DNA also codes for enzymes used in the mitochondria.

Key words Mitochondrial DNA, Nuclear DNA, Forensic 

Consumer Protection Act (CPA) is applicable on all hospitals who are charging from the patients. Lot of allegations are coming to the courts nowadays alleging negligence on the part of the doctors. Further, the investigating agency may require any documents pertaining to treatment of the patients. In such a scenario, it is important to keep the dental records updated. Dental records become the important document. Medico legal aspects of dental records have been discussed in the present paper.

Keywords Dental records, update. 

Abstract

Objective To investigate feasibility of estimation of stature from mandibular arch length
Materials and methods This prospective study was carried on 85 male cadavers. Stature and mandibular arch length of each corpse was measured. The data were subjected to statistical analysis. The measured statures were regressed against mandibular arch length using linear regression analysis.  Results High correlation was found between stature and mandibular arch length (r = 0.71). The equation estimating stature from mandibular arch length was derived as stature = 91.36 + 6.7911 X mandibular arch length. It is feasible to estimate stature from mandibular arch length.

Key words Stature, height, mandible, identification  

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