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Usefulness of Forensic Dental Symbols© and Dental Encoder© Database in Forensic Odontology

NCJ Number
239642
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 57 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2012 Pages: 206-211
Author(s)
Jesús Martínez-Chicón, B.D.S.; Aurora Valenzuela, M.D., Ph.D., B.D.S.
Date Published
January 2012
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This paper examined a new universal graphic dental system, Forensic Dental Symbols©.
Abstract
A new universal graphic dental system, Forensic Dental Symbols©, has been created to provide precision in the construction of dental records, improve standardization, and increase efficiency in dental identification procedures. Two hundred and thirty-four different graphic symbols representing the most frequent clinical status for each tooth were designed. Symbols can be then converted to a typographic font and then are ready to use in any computer. For the appropriate use, manipulation, and storage of dental information generated by the Forensic Dental Symbols©, Dental Encoder© database has been created. The database contains all the information required by INTERPOL Disaster Victim Identification (DVI)-dental-forms. To explore the possibilities that Dental Encoder© offers, an antemortem dental database from a Spanish population of 3,920 military personnel had been constructed. Data generated by Dental Encoder© were classified into sex and age groups. The program can perform an automatic search of the database for cases that match a selected clinical status presented in a single tooth or a combination of situations for several teeth. Moreover, Dental Encoder© allows information to be printed on INTERPOL DVI-dental-forms, or the inclusion of any completed form into any document, technical report, or identification of dental report. Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons.