A Study on the Computer Assisted Dental Identification in Mass Disaster

대형참사시 컴퓨터를 이용한 법의치과학적 개인식별

  • Shin, Kyoung-Jin (Dept. of Oral Medicine, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University) ;
  • Choi, Jong-Hoon (Dept. of Oral Medicine, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University) ;
  • Yoon, Chang-Lyuk (Dept. of Oral Medicine, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University) ;
  • Kim, Chong-Youl (Dept. of Oral Medicine, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University)
  • 신경진 (연세대학교 치과대학 구강내과학교실) ;
  • 최종훈 (연세대학교 치과대학 구강내과학교실) ;
  • 윤창록 (연세대학교 치과대학 구강내과학교실) ;
  • 김종열 (연세대학교 치과대학 구강내과학교실)
  • Published : 1999.03.30

Abstract

This study intends to find usefulness of the computer assisted dental identification in mass disaster. The variety of dental characteristics was investigated through the research of dental records of 508 adults. And a computer assisted simulation program was used to evaluate the selectivity of dental identification. Findings were as follows : 1. Combinations of dental characteristics were found 155 types. The most various dental characteristic was showed on the mandibular first molar. 99.0% of subjects had dental characteristics for dental identification. 2. The posterior teeth, in comparison with anterior teeth, showed higher selectivity in dental identification which was enhanced by information on the material, type and cavity of the restoration. 3. The variety of dental characteristics was mainly found on the combinations of missing tooth with the material, type and cavity of the restoration. 4. The computer assisted dental identification program, with informa- tion about one's tooth state, made individual identification possible when there was only a part of the teeth in a corpse. 5. The computer assisted dental identification had considerably high selectivity based on the variety of dental characteristics. And it was also performed faster and preciser than the existing identification methods. Based on the results of this study, there are various combinations of the feature of the tooth itself with dental characteristics caused by a certain type of treatment on the teeth. And using the computer assisted dental identification program based on this, dental identification can be more efficient economically and more useful than any other forensic identification methods.

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