Forensic Science, 7 (1976) 67-69 0 Elsevier Sequoia S.A., Lausanne
67 -
FORENSIC ODONTOLOGY VICTIM IN INDIA
Printed
in the Netherlands
IN IDENTIFICATION
OF
A MURDER
S. SIVARAM”
Central Forensic (India) (Received
January
Science
Laboratory,
26, 1976;
accepted
Central Bureau of Investigation, February
New Delhi 110022
10, 1976)
SUMMARY Absence of 2 left upper incisors and their sockets in the skull of a victim helped to case. Age at death of the victim was calculated using pinpoint identity in a murder Gustafson’s method.
During investigation of a murder case, the skeleton of the victim which had been dug out of a field was forwarded to our laboratory along with his photograph for examination. Detailed examination of the skeleton, and photographic superimposition of the skull on the photograph of the victim, helped to establish identity with a fair degree of certainty. Among the skeletal peculiarities which helped to establish identity was the total absence, even of the sockets, of the two left upper incisors (Fig. 1). This corresponded with the reported “gap in the front upper jaw teeth of the victim”, as informed by the family relatives. ‘All the remaining teeth including the 12 molars were represented in the skull. Presence of carious infestation in upper left molars was consistent with the report by the relatives, that the deceased had complaints of toothache. Since most of the teeth were intact, the age at death was determined from the teeth, by the method of Gustafson [ 11. Four teeth were used for sectioning, namely, an incisor (2-), a canine (3-) a premolar (4+ ) and a molar (8-). They were ground and sections were prepared preliminary to the microscopic examination in the prescribed manner (Fig. 2). Table 1 shows the various point values obtained on microscopic examination of the teeth. It had been rightly indicated by Gustafson that the premolar and molar teeth cause great spread in age estimation particularly in older ages due to their late eruption. Therefore, greater reliance should be placed on estimations based on the anterior teeth, namely, the incisors and canines. This is borne out in the present case, where the age of 57.3 estimated from the incisor (2-) and canine (3-) closely tallied with the real age of 57 years and *Present Extension,
address: Institute Rani Jhansi Road,
of Criminology and Forensic New Delhi 110055, India.
Science,
4E
Jhandewalan
2 1.5
2 2
2
23-
4+ (2 roots)
a--
3
3 3
3 3
Secondary dentine
3
3 3
3 3
Transparency of root
3
3 2.5
3 3
Cementum apposition
0
0 0
0.5 0.5
Paradentosis
0.5
0 0
0 0.5
Root resorption
11.5
11.0 10.5
11.5 11.5
Total
*Age estimated using the regression equation of Pillai and Bhaskar [ 21 following Gustafson’s method for Indian population.
Attrition
Tooth studied
Point values on teeth
TABLE I
57.3
53.3
57.3 57.3
Estimated age*
69
Fig. 1. Occlusal view of the teeth in upper jaw to show the 2 missing upper left incisors and the carious molars.
Fig. 2. Sections of the 4 teeth as prepared for the microscopic study.
4 months as verified from the service records of the victim. The premolar tooth (4+) which was examined gave a lower value of 53.3 years of estimated age, though the estimate from the molar (S-) was the same as the real age.
REFERENCES 1 G. Gustafson, Age determinations on teeth, J. Am. Dent. Assoc., 41 (1950) 45-54. 2 P. Sivaaankara Pillai and G. R. Bhaskar, Age estimation from teeth using Gustafson’s method -A study in India, Forensic Sci., 3 (1974) 135-141.
67 -
FORENSIC ODONTOLOGY VICTIM IN INDIA
Printed
in the Netherlands
IN IDENTIFICATION
OF
A MURDER
S. SIVARAM”
Central Forensic (India) (Received
January
Science
Laboratory,
26, 1976;
accepted
Central Bureau of Investigation, February
New Delhi 110022
10, 1976)
SUMMARY Absence of 2 left upper incisors and their sockets in the skull of a victim helped to case. Age at death of the victim was calculated using pinpoint identity in a murder Gustafson’s method.
During investigation of a murder case, the skeleton of the victim which had been dug out of a field was forwarded to our laboratory along with his photograph for examination. Detailed examination of the skeleton, and photographic superimposition of the skull on the photograph of the victim, helped to establish identity with a fair degree of certainty. Among the skeletal peculiarities which helped to establish identity was the total absence, even of the sockets, of the two left upper incisors (Fig. 1). This corresponded with the reported “gap in the front upper jaw teeth of the victim”, as informed by the family relatives. ‘All the remaining teeth including the 12 molars were represented in the skull. Presence of carious infestation in upper left molars was consistent with the report by the relatives, that the deceased had complaints of toothache. Since most of the teeth were intact, the age at death was determined from the teeth, by the method of Gustafson [ 11. Four teeth were used for sectioning, namely, an incisor (2-), a canine (3-) a premolar (4+ ) and a molar (8-). They were ground and sections were prepared preliminary to the microscopic examination in the prescribed manner (Fig. 2). Table 1 shows the various point values obtained on microscopic examination of the teeth. It had been rightly indicated by Gustafson that the premolar and molar teeth cause great spread in age estimation particularly in older ages due to their late eruption. Therefore, greater reliance should be placed on estimations based on the anterior teeth, namely, the incisors and canines. This is borne out in the present case, where the age of 57.3 estimated from the incisor (2-) and canine (3-) closely tallied with the real age of 57 years and *Present Extension,
address: Institute Rani Jhansi Road,
of Criminology and Forensic New Delhi 110055, India.
Science,
4E
Jhandewalan
2 1.5
2 2
2
23-
4+ (2 roots)
a--
3
3 3
3 3
Secondary dentine
3
3 3
3 3
Transparency of root
3
3 2.5
3 3
Cementum apposition
0
0 0
0.5 0.5
Paradentosis
0.5
0 0
0 0.5
Root resorption
11.5
11.0 10.5
11.5 11.5
Total
*Age estimated using the regression equation of Pillai and Bhaskar [ 21 following Gustafson’s method for Indian population.
Attrition
Tooth studied
Point values on teeth
TABLE I
57.3
53.3
57.3 57.3
Estimated age*
69
Fig. 1. Occlusal view of the teeth in upper jaw to show the 2 missing upper left incisors and the carious molars.
Fig. 2. Sections of the 4 teeth as prepared for the microscopic study.
4 months as verified from the service records of the victim. The premolar tooth (4+) which was examined gave a lower value of 53.3 years of estimated age, though the estimate from the molar (S-) was the same as the real age.
REFERENCES 1 G. Gustafson, Age determinations on teeth, J. Am. Dent. Assoc., 41 (1950) 45-54. 2 P. Sivaaankara Pillai and G. R. Bhaskar, Age estimation from teeth using Gustafson’s method -A study in India, Forensic Sci., 3 (1974) 135-141.
