Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The dental prosthesis (removable and fixed) from the Colecção de Esqueletos Identificados Século XXI (CEI/XXI)

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Journal of Legal Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

For identification of the unknown, the analysis of individualizing characteristics is a paramount procedure, which allows the reconciliation of antemortem with postmortem data. Worldwide, populations are commonly affected by tooth loss, leading to procedures of oral rehabilitation, such as dental prostheses. Although the potential of these devices for human identification is well known, the lack of marks or serial numbers as well as scarce systematic register on databases may difficult its use. The objective of this paper is to present and describe the cases with dentures and bridges of an identified osteological collection, the Colecção de Esqueletos Identificados Século XXI. All the individuals were macroscopically observed, and the cases presenting dental prostheses were registered. A total of thirty-one individuals (20 females; 11 males), ages 38 to 91 years, presented 49 dental prosthesis (removable or fixed), of various materials. The removable acrylic dentures (n = 42) were the most frequent. No identifying marks or production labels were found. This research reinforces two focal points: the value of studying and recognizing medical devices and their application for identification, and the relevance of identified skeletal collections for the advance of forensic science in the current multidisciplinary approach.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

Code availability

Not applicable.

References

  1. Cunha E (2017) Considerações sobre a Antropologia Forense na Atualidade. Rev Bras Odontol Leg 4:110–117. https://doi.org/10.21117/rbol.v4i2.133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Ubelaker DH (2018) A history of forensic anthropology. Am J Phys Anthropol 165:915–923. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.23306

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Saukko P, Knight B (2016) Knight’s forensic pathology, 4th edn. CRC Press, Boca Raton

    Google Scholar 

  4. Christensen AM, Anderson BE (2017) Methods of personal identification. In: Langley NR, Tersigni-Tarrant MA (eds) Forensic anthropology a comprehensive introduction, 2nd edn. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 314–333

    Google Scholar 

  5. de Boer HH, Obertová Z, Cunha E et al (2020) Strengthening the role of forensic anthropology in personal identification: position statement by the Board of the Forensic Anthropology Society of Europe (FASE). Forensic Sci Int 315:1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110456

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Caplova Z, Obertova Z, Gibelli DM et al (2018) Personal identification of deceased persons: an overview of the current methods based on physical appearance. J Forensic Sci 63:662–671. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.13643

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. INTERPOL (2018) INTERPOL disaster victim identification guide. https://www.interpol.int/INTERPOL-expertise/Forensics/DVI-Pages/DVI-guide. Accessed 9 Feb 2018

  8. Heit OFJ (2020) Importancia de los registros pre y post tratamiento clínico odontológico para la identificación humana-Reporte de un caso forense. Rev Argentina Odontol Leg 4:24–28

    Google Scholar 

  9. De Angelis D, Cattaneo C (2015) Implant bone integration importance in forensic identification. J Forensic Sci 60:505–508. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.12640

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. ICRC (2020) Forensic identification of human remains. In: Int. Comm. Red Cross. https://www.icrc.org/en/publication/4154-forensic-identification-human-remains. Accessed 11 Dec 2020

  11. Rutty GN (2007) Sof tissue trauma. In: Thompson T, Black S (eds) Forensic human Identification: an instroduction. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 113–126

    Google Scholar 

  12. Wilson RJ, Bethard JD, DiGangi EA (2011) The use of orthopedic surgical devices for forensic identification. J Forensic Sci 56:460–469. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2010.01639.x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Durão CH, Pinto R, Ribeiro C, Vieira D (2012) Importance of a national arthroplasty register for identification by medical examiner. Rev Bras Ortop 47:651–655. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0102-36162012000500018

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. de Queiroz CL, Bostock EM, Santos CF et al (2017) A forensic identification case and DPid - can it be a useful tool? J Appl Oral Sci 25:346–353. https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-7757-2016-0175

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Cappella A, Gibelli D, Obertová Z et al (2019) The utility of skeletal and surgical features for the personal identification process: a pilot study. J Forensic Sci 64:1796–1802. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.14117

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Carneiro ACM, Maia Correia AR, Reis Campos JC et al (2013) Caracterização da desdentação parcial numa amostra populacional de uma Faculdade de Medicina Dentária. Rev Port Estomatol Med Dent e Cir Maxilofac 54:60–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rpemd.2012.11.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Gaviria L, Salcido JP, Guda T, Ong JL (2014) Current trends in dental implants. J Korean Assoc Oral Maxillofac Surg 40:50–60. https://doi.org/10.5125/jkaoms.2014.40.2.50

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Messias A, Nicolau P, Guerra F (2021) Different interventions for rehabilitation of the edentulous maxilla with implant-supported prostheses: an overview of systematic reviews. Int J Prosthodont 34:2021

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Mohan J, Dhinesh Kumar CD, Simon P (2012) “Denture marking” as an aid to forensic identification. J Indian Prosthodont Soc 12:131–136. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13191-012-0125-x

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  20. Modesti LDM, Vieira GM, Galvão MF, de Amorim RFB (2014) Human identification by oral prosthesis analysis with probability rates higher than dna analysis. J Forensic Sci 59:825–829. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.12404

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Datta P, Sood S (2010) The various methods and benefits of denture labeling. J Forensic Dent Sci 2(2):53–58. https://doi.org/10.4103/0975-1475.81281

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Bansal P, Bhanot R, Sharma A (2011) Denture labeling: a new approach. Contemp Clin Dent 2(2):76–78. https://doi.org/10.4103/0976-237x.83064

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Gosavi SS, Gosavi SS (2012) Forensic odontology: a prosthodontic view. J Forensic Dent Sci 4(1):38–41. https://doi.org/10.4103/0975-1475.99162

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Berman GM, Bush MA, Bush PJ et al (2013) Dental identification. In: Senn DR, Weems RA (eds) Manual of forensic odontology. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 75–128

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  25. Ferreira MT, Coelho C, Makhoul C et al (2021) New data about the 21st century identified skeletal collection (University of Coimbra, Portugal). Int J Legal Med 135:1087–1094. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-020-02399-6

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Zhao J, Wang X (2014) Dental prostheses. In: Shen JZ, Kosmač T (eds) Advanced ceramics for dentistry. Elsevier Inc, Oxford, pp 23–49

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  27. Fernandes A, Correia A, Silva AM, Figueiredo C (2018) Forensic identification tool in dental removable prosthodontics. In: Gomes JFS, Meguid SA (eds) Proceedings IRF2018: 6th international conference integrity-reliability-failure. Lisboa, 1441–1444

  28. Cunha E, Pinheiro J (2007) Forensic Antrhopology in Portugal: from current practice to future challenges. In: Brickley MB, Ferllini R (eds) Forensic antrhopology: cases studies from Europe. Charles C Thomas Pub Ltd, Springfield, pp 38–57

    Google Scholar 

  29. WHO (2013) Oral health surveys, Basic Methods 5th Edition. Geneva

  30. Kassebaum NJ, Smith AGC, Bernabé E et al (2017) Global, regional, and national prevalence, incidence, and disability-adjusted life years for oral conditions for 195 countries, 1990–2015: a systematic analysis for the global burden of diseases, injuries, and risk factors. J Dent Res 96:380–387. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022034517693566

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. OMD -Ordem dos Médicos Dentistas (2019) Barómetro da saúde oral. In: OMD. https://www.omd.pt/content/uploads/2019/11/barometro-saude-oral-2019.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3b3vU5A8k1uhQwhcLA8Wsd5G2hqDYkYVZ99LiCTMRcJ1FyrPZWy9vyGR8. Accessed 11 Dec 2020

  32. Tyrovolas S, Koyanagi A, Panagiotakos DB et al (2016) Population prevalence of edentulism and its association with depression and self-rated health. Sci Rep 6:1–9. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep37083

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Ferreira MT, Vicente R, Navega D et al (2014) A new forensic collection housed at the University of Coimbra, Portugal: the 21st century identified skeletal collection. Forensic Sci Int 245:202.e1-202.e5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.09.021

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Zitzmann NU, Hagmann E, Weiger R (2007) What is the prevalence of various types of prosthetic dental restorations in Europe? Clin Oral Implants Res 18:20–33. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0501.2007.01435.x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Professor Pedro Nicolau for his valuable contribution for case discussion.

Funding

This work is carried out at the R&D Unit Centre for Functional Ecology—Science for People and the Planet (CFE), with reference UIDB/04004/2020, financed by FCT/MCTES through national funds (PIDDAC). The co-authors Catarina Coelho (SFRH/BD/129826/2017) and Inês Oliveira Santos (SFRH/BD/139158/2018) are supported by FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia grants.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology, Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE), University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal

    Inês Oliveira-Santos, Catarina Coelho, Eugénia Cunha, Isabel Poiares Baptista & Maria Teresa Ferreira

  2. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal E Ciências Forenses, IP., Lisbon, Portugal

    Eugénia Cunha

  3. Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry Department, Institute of Periodontology, University of Coimbra, Avenida Bissaya Barreto, 3000-075, Coimbra, Portugal

    Isabel Poiares Baptista

Authors
  1. Inês Oliveira-Santos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Catarina Coelho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Eugénia Cunha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Isabel Poiares Baptista
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Maria Teresa Ferreira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Inês Oliveira-Santos and Catarina Coelho contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation and data collection were performed by Inês Oliveira-Santos, Catarina Coelho, and Maria Teresa Ferreira. Data analysis was performed by Inês Oliveira-Santos, Catarina Coelho, Maria Teresa Ferreira, and Isabel Poiares Baptista. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Inês Oliveira-Santos and Catarina Coelho. Eugénia Cunha, Isabel Poiares Batista, and Maria Teresa Baptista contributed with manuscript review. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Inês Oliveira-Santos.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval

The positive legal decision from the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra, Portugal (CE_026.2016).

Consent to participate

Not applicable

Consent for publication

Not applicable

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Oliveira-Santos, I., Coelho, C., Cunha, E. et al. The dental prosthesis (removable and fixed) from the Colecção de Esqueletos Identificados Século XXI (CEI/XXI). Int J Legal Med 135, 2595–2602 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-021-02701-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-021-02701-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation