Forensic Identification: Dental Scan Data Sets of the Palatal Fold Pairs as an Individual Feature in a Longitudinal Cohort Study

Monika Bjelopavlovic (), Desiree Degering, Karl Martin Lehmann, Daniel G. E. Thiem, Jochen Hardt and Katja Petrowski
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Monika Bjelopavlovic: Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg, University Mainz, Augustusplatz 2, 55131 Mainz, Germany
Desiree Degering: Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg, University Mainz, Augustusplatz 2, 55131 Mainz, Germany
Karl Martin Lehmann: Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg, University Mainz, Augustusplatz 2, 55131 Mainz, Germany
Daniel G. E. Thiem: Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg, University Mainz, Augustusplatz 2, 55131 Mainz, Germany
Jochen Hardt: Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg, University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, 55131 Mainz, Germany
Katja Petrowski: Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg, University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, 55131 Mainz, Germany

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 3, 1-10

Abstract: The INTERPOL standard for the identification of unknown individuals includes the established primary characteristics of fingerprint, DNA, and teeth. Exposure to noxious agents such as fire and water often severely limits the availability of usable material such as fingerprints. In addition to teeth, the protected oral cavity also houses palatal fold pairs, which are the subject of this study to demonstrate individuality and consequently support identification. Material and Methods: In this cohort study, 105 participants’ palates were scanned twice with a dental intraoral scanner (Omnicam SIRONA®) over a 3 month period and were then analyzed using a matching program. The intraindividual and interindividual differences were determined, and the mean values and standard deviations were calculated and presented. Results: The intraindividual differences are highly significantly lower than the interindividual differences ( p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, the results suggest that palatal rugae pairs can be considered a highly individual feature and could be considered an identification feature in a young and healthy population.

Keywords: forensic dentistry; digital technology; palate; patient identification systems; intraoral scanner (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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