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Case Reports
. 2021 Sep 27;7(2):319-322.
doi: 10.1080/20961790.2021.1962038. eCollection 2022.

The need for a complete dental autopsy of unidentified edentulous human remains

Emilio Nuzzolese  1 , Mario Torreggianti  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

The need for a complete dental autopsy of unidentified edentulous human remains

Emilio Nuzzolese et al. Forensic Sci Res. .

Abstract

In December 2017, a decomposed unidentified body was found near the river Tronto in Teramo, Italy. The corpse was found without any identifying documents or specific personal belongings, except for a packet of cigarettes. The medical examiner determined a gastric perforation from the intake of hydrochloric acid to be the cause of death. A jar of muriatic acid found near the body led to suicide being considered the manner of death. The Penal Court in Teramo appointed two forensic odontologists to complete the postmortem assessment and collect dental data for personal identification. The corpse was found wearing a complete set of upper and lower dentures. The dental autopsy and 42 periapical X-ray images helped generate a biological profile of a man totally edentulous with upper and lower dentures, as well as an osteosynthesis with two plates and screws in the left ascending ramus of the mandible. In March 2018, the sister of a missing person reported the disappearance of her brother, and a presumptive identification was performed through visual recognition of the decomposed body. The sister confirmed the presence of two dentures and the location of the maxillo-facial surgery for the treatment of the fractured mandible. A complete dental autopsy was able to establish his identity without any DNA comparison needed. This case highlights the importance of performing a complete dental autopsy inclusive of dental radiographs, and its value in the identification of all unknown human remains even when totally edentulous. A complete dental autopsy should be performed in all cases of human identification.KeypointsDespite a corpse being edentulous, a complete dental autopsy can still be useful.Dental radiographs, such as bitewings, periapical images, panoramic radiographs, and CT scans, are recommended in all identification autopsies.

Keywords: Forensic sciences; dental autopsy; edentulous; forensic odontology; identification; missing person.

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Conflict of interest statement

Emilio Nuzzolese and Mario Torreggianti performed the study, the measurements and analysed the data. Emilio Nuzzolese drafted the manuscript. Mario Torreggianti designed the figures. All authors discussed the results and contributed to the final text and approved it.The study was conducted under the ethical approval of the institutional review board of the University of Turin. Written informed consent was exempted by the Review Board of the University of Turin because the dissemination of the data has been authorized by the competent Criminal Court.No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Forty-two periapical X-ray images obtained using a portable X-ray device coupled with a digital radiological sensor.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
A close-up of the panoramic X-ray image of the patient received from the hospital, with the osteosynthesis in place on the left angle of the mandible.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
The collage of the periapical radiographs showing the osteosynthesis on the left angle of the mandible of the unidentified human remains.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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