A case report of forensic personal identification by transposed teeth and dental treatment marks using multidetector row computed tomography

Yuka Sasaki; Akihito Usui; Hayato Odagiri; Toshihiko Suzuki; Tomohiro Kaneta; Masato Funayama

doi:10.1016/j.radcr.2023.07.068

A case report of forensic personal identification by transposed teeth and dental treatment marks using multidetector row computed tomography

Radiol Case Rep. 2023 Nov 23;19(2):581-585. doi: 10.1016/j.radcr.2023.07.068. eCollection 2024 Feb.

Authors

Yuka Sasaki¹, Akihito Usui¹, Hayato Odagiri¹, Toshihiko Suzuki², Tomohiro Kaneta¹, Masato Funayama³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Diagnostic Image Analysis, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan.
² Division of Dental and Digital Forensics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry, 4-1, Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan.
³ Department of Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan.

Abstract

Using postmortem computed tomography (CT) images, we achieved personal identification of a body using transposed teeth and dental treatment marks. Transposition of teeth is a rare malpositioning anomaly. CT images can clarify the malpositioning of the teeth's roots, which is difficult to discern from gross observation of the dentition. Because dental hygiene has reduced the incidence of caries in recent years, it might be difficult to use treatment marks for personal identification in the future. Transposed teeth, although rare, provide an important clue to personal identification.

Keywords: Autopsy; Decomposition; Forensic dentistry; Identification; Postmortem computed tomography; Tooth abnormality.

Publication types

Case Reports