Identification of a charred body by comparative analysis of surgically removed jaws: A case report

This case report aims to highlight the importance of comparative analysis of surgically removed jaws, especially when expert human identification is required. In this study’s case, a charred body was discovered inside a burnt-out vehicle on the side of a highway. Initially, the vehicle was identif...

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Main Authors: Vanessa Koltermann Sartori, Ademir Franco do Rosário Jr., Marcos Vinícius Bordignon, Valmor Júnior Barbosa Ávila, Felipe Gomes Dallepiane, João Paulo De Carli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sociedade Portuguesa de Estomatologia e Medicina Dentária 2025-03-01
Series:Revista Portuguesa de Estomatologia, Medicina Dentária e Cirurgia Maxilofacial
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Online Access:https://administracao.spemd.pt/app/assets/imagens/files_img/1_19_67ebc6b4da4e4.pdf
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author Vanessa Koltermann Sartori
Ademir Franco do Rosário Jr.
Marcos Vinícius Bordignon
Valmor Júnior Barbosa Ávila
Felipe Gomes Dallepiane
João Paulo De Carli
author_facet Vanessa Koltermann Sartori
Ademir Franco do Rosário Jr.
Marcos Vinícius Bordignon
Valmor Júnior Barbosa Ávila
Felipe Gomes Dallepiane
João Paulo De Carli
author_sort Vanessa Koltermann Sartori
collection DOAJ
description This case report aims to highlight the importance of comparative analysis of surgically removed jaws, especially when expert human identification is required. In this study’s case, a charred body was discovered inside a burnt-out vehicle on the side of a highway. Initially, the vehicle was identified, and its registration and electronic documentation were verified with the competent traffic authorities. The possible victim's family was contacted and interviewed. Given the impossibility of a dactyloscopy due to the destruction of the necessary structures and the possible time and cost limitations associated with DNA identification, the family was asked if the possible victim had any medical or dental history records. The victim's jaws were surgically removed and compared with the dental documentation kept by the possible victim's dental surgeon. Identification using the dental method proved to be viable. The process of forensic dentistry identification is essentially comparative, involving the clinical evaluation of the victim’s surgically removed jaws compared to their dental records (forensic dentistry documents). This approach represents a crucial contribution and, in some cases, might be the main or only reference for resolving legal human identification.
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language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Sociedade Portuguesa de Estomatologia e Medicina Dentária
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series Revista Portuguesa de Estomatologia, Medicina Dentária e Cirurgia Maxilofacial
spelling doaj-art-ffca2bf1faa5453884d3afab9a5b5aee2025-08-20T02:27:01ZengSociedade Portuguesa de Estomatologia e Medicina DentáriaRevista Portuguesa de Estomatologia, Medicina Dentária e Cirurgia Maxilofacial1646-28901647-67002025-03-01661444810.24873/j.rpemd.2025.03.1423Identification of a charred body by comparative analysis of surgically removed jaws: A case reportVanessa Koltermann Sartori0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1269-4065Ademir Franco do Rosário Jr.1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1417-2781Marcos Vinícius Bordignon2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2552-8349Valmor Júnior Barbosa Ávila3https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1770-3638Felipe Gomes Dallepiane4https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9677-9984João Paulo De Carli5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4705-6226University of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilPontifical Catholic University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil; Post Graduation Program in Dentistry, São Leopoldo Mandic Research Center, Campinas, São Paulo, BrazilUniversity of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilFederal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; School of Dentistry, University of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilFederal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, BrazilPontifical Catholic University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil; Post Graduation Program in Dentistry, University of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilThis case report aims to highlight the importance of comparative analysis of surgically removed jaws, especially when expert human identification is required. In this study’s case, a charred body was discovered inside a burnt-out vehicle on the side of a highway. Initially, the vehicle was identified, and its registration and electronic documentation were verified with the competent traffic authorities. The possible victim's family was contacted and interviewed. Given the impossibility of a dactyloscopy due to the destruction of the necessary structures and the possible time and cost limitations associated with DNA identification, the family was asked if the possible victim had any medical or dental history records. The victim's jaws were surgically removed and compared with the dental documentation kept by the possible victim's dental surgeon. Identification using the dental method proved to be viable. The process of forensic dentistry identification is essentially comparative, involving the clinical evaluation of the victim’s surgically removed jaws compared to their dental records (forensic dentistry documents). This approach represents a crucial contribution and, in some cases, might be the main or only reference for resolving legal human identification.https://administracao.spemd.pt/app/assets/imagens/files_img/1_19_67ebc6b4da4e4.pdfdental radiographyforensic anthropologyforensic dentistrysurgery
spellingShingle Vanessa Koltermann Sartori
Ademir Franco do Rosário Jr.
Marcos Vinícius Bordignon
Valmor Júnior Barbosa Ávila
Felipe Gomes Dallepiane
João Paulo De Carli
Identification of a charred body by comparative analysis of surgically removed jaws: A case report
Revista Portuguesa de Estomatologia, Medicina Dentária e Cirurgia Maxilofacial
dental radiography
forensic anthropology
forensic dentistry
surgery
title Identification of a charred body by comparative analysis of surgically removed jaws: A case report
title_full Identification of a charred body by comparative analysis of surgically removed jaws: A case report
title_fullStr Identification of a charred body by comparative analysis of surgically removed jaws: A case report
title_full_unstemmed Identification of a charred body by comparative analysis of surgically removed jaws: A case report
title_short Identification of a charred body by comparative analysis of surgically removed jaws: A case report
title_sort identification of a charred body by comparative analysis of surgically removed jaws a case report
topic dental radiography
forensic anthropology
forensic dentistry
surgery
url https://administracao.spemd.pt/app/assets/imagens/files_img/1_19_67ebc6b4da4e4.pdf
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