Application of 3D imaging and selfies in forensic dental identification.

With increased access to smartphones, the selfie has gained immense popularity in the past decade. Selfie images could be a significant source of ante-mortem (AM) image data in cases where dental records are unavailable or considered insufficient. The application of 3D imaging and selfies has not been explored to its full potential in human dental identification.

Forensic dental identification using two-dimensional photographs of a smile and three-dimensional dental models: A 2D-3D superimposition method.

Photographs of a person smiling may provide valuable information about their anterior dentition. These images can be an alternative ante-mortem (AM) dental source in cases with no dental records, which gives the forensic odontologist a significant opportunity for comparative dental analysis. There are no reported studies that have investigated the reliability of a superimposition technique using 2D photographs of a smile and 3D dental models in dental identification.

Automated Identification from Dental Data (AutoIDD): A new development in digital forensics.

There has been a significant expansion in the use of 3-dimensional (3D) dental images in recent years. In the field of forensic odontology, an automated 3D dental identification system could enhance the identification process. This study presents a novel method for automated human dental identification using 3D digital dental data by utilising a dental identification scenario.

Inaccurate Dental Charting in an Audit of 1128 General Dental Practice Records.

Fourteen dentists at different practices in the UK assessed the dental charts of 1128 patients who were new to the dentist but not new to the practice; 44% of the dental charts were found to be inaccurate. Inaccuracy of the individual practice-based charts ranged between 16% for the best performing practices to 83% for the worst: 5% of dental charts had too many teeth charted and 5% had too few teeth charted; 13% of charts had missed amalgam restorations and 18% had missed tooth-coloured restorations; 5% of charts had amalgam restorations recorded but with the surfaces incorrect (eg an MO restoration charted but a DO restoration actually present); 9% of charts had tooth-coloured restoration surfaces incorrectly recorded. For 7.

Inconsistency in opinions of forensic odontologists when considering bite mark evidence.

There has been controversy surrounding the principles of bite mark analysis, and also the opinions reached by forensic odontologists. The purpose of this study was to assess the consistency of opinions formed by forensic odontologists, both for individual odontologists after a period of time, and between odontologists. 23 forensic odontologists participated, and opinions on 4 cases per member were requested.

Epidermal growth factor contamination and concentrations of intact human chorionic gonadotropin in commercial preparations.

It is well-known that many urinary-derived human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) preparations contain a variety of contaminating agents that may influence the efficacy and possible safety of their application. Herein, we report the finding of epidermal growth factor (EGF) contamination and high hCG beta core levels in two leading brands of hCG - findings that will promote the use of recombinant hCG instead of the cruder, urinary-derived formulations.

Homocysteine oxidation and apoptosis: a potential cause of cleft palate.

Cleft palate is the most common craniofacial anomaly. Affected individuals require extensive medical and psychosocial support. Although cleft palate has a complex and poorly understood etiology, low maternal folate is known to be a risk factor for craniofacial anomalies.

Microarray analysis of murine palatogenesis: temporal expression of genes during normal palate development.

The mammalian face is assembled in utero in a series of complex and interdependent molecular, cell and tissue processes. The orofacial complex appears to be exquisitely sensitive to genetic and environmental influence and this explains why clefts of the lip and palate are the most common congenital anomaly in humans (one in 700 live births). In this study, microarray technology was used to identify genes that may play pivotal roles in normal murine palatogenesis.