Feasibility Analysis of Using Anatomic and Dental Formulas in Human Identification

Background and purpose: Dental and skeletal features, unlike soft tissues, remain unchanged in events where most body tissues are destroyed such as car accidents, plane crash, crimes, etc. Panoramic and lateral cephalometric radiographs can provide useful information about dental and cephalometric indicators in human identification. Materials and methods: A cohort retrospective study was carried out in five stages, including collecting the samples, using a specific tooth counting system, identifying the landmarks in panoramic radiographs and designing a dental formula, designing anatomical formula with cephalometric indicators and identifying operator errors, and matching and data analysis. Results: We studied 180 people, including 97 (54%) women and 83 men aged 15-59 (mean age= 25.5) years in Tehran. Average indexes of missing (M), filled (F), Root Canal Therapy (RCT) teeth, crown (C), (Body/Go-Go), (Mf-Mf/Mf-Go(R+L)), De, P, ER, Go in lateral Cephalometry, SNA, SNB, Basal, N-Ans-Me, Ans-Pns/Go-Me, and S-Go/N-Me were not significantly different between cases by comparing the graphs before and after treatments (P>0.05). Examination of average indices of implant and dilacerated teeth in general and without considering the number of teeth, did not show a significant difference when the pre/post-treatment graphs were compared (P>0.05). In examining the Co-Ans/Co-Gn, Go in panoramic graph, (S-N/S-Ba) and S-N-Ba, no significant difference was observed between the cases (P>0.05). Conclusion: Panoramic, lateral cephalometric graphs and designing creative formula can be used in human identification.