Dental autopsy for the identification of missing persons: case report

Unidentified human remains require a complete collection of information during the autopsy stage in order to achieve, even belatedly, correct identification. The very large number of people reported as missing and/or dispersed may represent an obstacle in the investigative process leading to the potential identity of the corpse, considering the need to compare ante-mortem data with post mortem findings. Add to this the high number of 'unidentified corpses' yet to be identified, 831 units in the Office of the Government commissar for missing persons, as of June 30th, 2012. However, forensic odontologists can intervene in order to support the medical examiner, by narrowing down the field of investigation, even in the absence of ante-mortem data, identifying gender, race, age and socio-economic class as well as the nationality of the victim (so called generic or reconstructive identification). This will allow for the investigating authorities to narrow down the list of subjects to be included in the comparative process and to extend the investigation by gathering further information, which may not necessarily be dental data. A single case of a skeletonized corpse, listed in the aforementioned list of nameless bodies is presented, with particular attention paid to the odontology assessment. INTERPOL forms (module F1 and F2) were employed during the dental autopsy. The latter was carried out through a complete X-ray examination of the dental arches, dental arch inspection both with and without UV light, photography, impressions of teeth, collection of enamel specimens and the sampling of dental restorative materials. A portable X-ray unit with a digital sensor connected to a laptop was used. The oral inspection was assisted by a specific source of UV light in order to enhance the visibility of any composite resin restorations which are often not perceptible to the human eye due to a high degree of dental mimicry. Finally, the enamel specimens were subjected to geological analysis of the strontium, composite resin and metal found in the mouth to SEM-EDS SEM-EDX. The use of all these forensic tools and analysis allow for a broader definition of dental autopsy, which can no longer remain a simple dental assessment carried out with merely one odontogram. In the author's opinion all human remains of uncertain nationality should receive a complete dental autopsy applying DVI standards and INTERPOL forms. Forensic odontologists should be considered in the missing and unidentified investigations as indispensable resources in the process of identification of 'unidentified corpses'. The failure to routinely employ forensic odontologists may result in a reduction of additional findings which together with other circumstantial evidence and DNA profiles, could lead to a delay in positive identification.