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The diversity of dental patterns is a fundamental topic in disaster victim identification. The current scientific literature, however, is scarce of data regarding young individuals. This study aimed to assess the radiographic diversity of dental patterns, considering missing, unrestored, and filled teeth in young individuals. The sample consisted of 7219 panoramic radiographs of individuals between 12 and 22.9 years. The permanent teeth, except third molars, were coded as missing, unrestored, or filled and odds ratios (OR) were calculated based on sex, dental arch, and age. The sex-combined sample had 1.116 distinctive dental patterns. "All unrestored" teeth was the most common pattern (OR: 0.437) followed by the sequence of unrestored teeth except restored mandibular first molars (OR: 0.021). Females had more distinctive dental patterns than males (p < .001), while males had more unrestored teeth (p < .001). In the age category of 12-12.9 years, the OR for finding a distinctive dental pattern was 11%, while in the age category of 22-22.9 years it increased to 58%. On the other hand, the OR for "all unrestored" gradually decreased according to age (74% in the younger category, and 23% in the older age category). The distinctiveness of dental patterns among young individuals is affected by the predominance of unrestored teeth. However, registering a single filled tooth in a remaining unrestored dentition can reduce exponentially the probability of finding an identical pattern of missing, unrestored and filled teeth.

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OBJECTIVES: This study aimed (I) to test the Willems' dental age estimation method in different geographic samples of the Brazilian population, and (II) to propose a new model combining the geographic samples in a single reference table of Brazilian maturity scores. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 5017 panoramic radiographs of Brazilian males (n = 2443) and females (n = 2574) between 6 and 15.99 years (mean age = 10.99 ± 2.76 years). The radiographs were collected from the Southeastern (SE) (n = 2920), Central-Western (CW) (n = 1176), and Southern (SO) (n = 921) geographic regions. Demirjian's technique was applied followed by Willems' method and the proposed Brazilian model. RESULTS: Willems' method led to mean absolute errors (MAE) of 0.79 and 0.81 years for males and females, respectively. Root mean squared errors (RMSE) were 1.01 and 1.03 years, respectively. The Brazilian model led to MAE of 0.72 and 0.74 years for males and females, respectively, and RMSE of 0.93 years for both sexes. The MAE was reduced in 70% of the age categories. Differences between regions were statistically (p < 0.05) but not clinically significant. CONCLUSION: The new model based on a combined population had an enhanced performance compared to Willems' model and led to reference outcomes for Brazilians. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Assessing patients' biological development by means of dental analysis is relevant to plan orthopedic treatments and follow up. Having a combined-region statistic model for dental age estimation of Brazilian children contributes to optimal age estimation practices.

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Disaster victim identification is structured according to international recommendations on the attempt to optimize forensic logistics. The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) establishes primary and secondary methods for human identification. This study aimed to revisit the existing literature to address the forensic importance of tattoos. The scientific literature has shown advances in the forensic analyses of tattoos specially when it comes to the application of especial imaging techniques, namely photography with infrared light to visualize latent tattoo inks and cover-up tattoos, as well as the use of biochemical processing to distinguish components of the tattoo inks. Other relevant aspect is the fields dedicated to tattoo descriptions in software used worldwide for disaster victim identification, namely PlassData. Coding systems have been proposed as well to facilitate communication in the human identification process. The future of forensic analyses of tattoos is promising considering the increase of research in recent years. Forensic practice might benefit from it with more scientific evidence to support the utilization of tattoo analyses in casework

A identificação de vítimas de desastres em massa é estruturada de acordo com recomendações internacionais na tentativa de otimizar a logística forense. A INTERPOL (International Criminal Police Organization) estabelece métodos primários e secundários para identificação humana. Este estudo teve como objetivo revisitar a literatura existente para abordar a importância forense das tatuagens. A literatura científica tem mostrado avanços nas análises forenses de tatuagens, especialmente no que diz respeito à aplicação de técnicas especiais de imaginologia, como a fotografia com luz infravermelha para visualizar tintas latentes de tatuagens e tatuagens de cobertura, bem como a utilização de processamento bioquímico para distinguir componentes das tintas de tatuagem. Outro aspecto relevante são os campos dedicados à descrição de tatuagens em softwares utilizados mundialmente para identificação de vítimas de desastres em massa, como o PlassData. Sistemas de codificação também foram propostos para facilitar a comunicação no processo de identificação humana. O futuro das análises forenses de tatuagens é promissor considerando o aumento das pesquisas nos últimos anos. A prática forense pode beneficiar-se com mais evidências científicas para apoiar a utilização de análises de tatuagens na condução de casos periciais

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Dental age estimation is a technical procedure performed to support Court decisions in cases of legal liability, clandestine migration, sexual abuse, and several other applications. This study reports a case of an undocumented individuals that was originally identified by the criminal legal system (without a previous civil identity). In his identity records, a name was given: "Black male, 19" ­ indicating his population affinity (African), sex (male) and age (19 years). His body was found decapitated and referred to the medicolegal institute. The dental examination highlighted the presence of a third molar in the very early stage (») of root formation. Age was estimated using five methods based on dental development (the methods of Schour and Massler [1941], Moorrees et al. [1963], Anderson et al. [1976], London Atlas [2010], and Blenkin and Taylor [2012]). All the methods indicated that the individual was a minor, within the range between 14.5 and 15.5 years. This study highlights the importance of assigning adequate personnel to technical tasks in the police/forensic routine in order to safeguard human rights

A estimativa da idade dentária é um procedimento técnico realizado para apoiar decisões judiciais em casos de responsabilidade legal, migração clandestina, abuso sexual e diversas outras aplicações. Este estudo relata o caso de um indivíduo indocumentado que foi originalmente identificado pelo sistema penal (sem identidade civil prévia). Nos seus registos de identidade foi atribuído um nome: "Homem negro, 19 anos" ­ indicando a sua afinidade populacional (africana), sexo (masculino) e idade (19 anos). Seu corpo foi encontrado decapitado e encaminhado a um Instituto Médico-legal. O exame odontológico evidenciou a presença de um terceiro molar em fase muito inicial (») de formação radicular. A idade foi estimada usando cinco métodos baseados no desenvolvimento dentário (os métodos de Schour e Massler [1941], Moorrees et al. [1963], Anderson et al. [1976], London Atlas [2010] e Blenkin e Taylor [2012]). Todos os métodos indicaram que o indivíduo era menor de idade, na faixa entre 14,5 e 15,5 anos. Este estudo destaca a importância de designar pessoal adequado para tarefas técnicas na rotina policial/forense, a fim de salvaguardar os direitos humanos

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Há muito, os conhecimentos odontológicos têm se apresentado como uma ferramenta primordial na determinação da identidade de vítimas de morte violenta, especialmente quando estas se apresentam carbonizadas, putrefeitas, mutiladas ou esqueletizadas, mas também em casos atípicos, como em cadáveres "frescos". Nesse contexto, o presente trabalho tem o objetivo de relatar o primeiro caso de identificação odontológica utilizando-se o equipamento de tomografia computadorizada do Instituto Médico Legal (IML) de Goiânia-GO para obtenção das informações post-mortem (PM) de um cadáver íntegro, que foram confrontadas com os dados da radiografia panorâmica antemortem (AM). Relato de Caso: Um indivíduo vítima de projéteis de arma de fogo foi removido para o IML de Goiânia para os exames de praxe depois de vir a óbito em unidade hospitalar. Apesar de o corpo se apresentar "fresco", a coleta (tomada) de impressões digitais revelou um registro cuja qualidade não permitia a demarcação dos pontos necessários para um confronto papiloscópico. Os supostos familiares, então, apresentaram radiografia panorâmica AM, fato que motivou a equipe pericial a utilizar o recém instalado equipamento de tomografia computadorizada para a obtenção de imagem PM, possibilitando o devido processo de reconciliação (AM x PM), onde foram identificadas diversas similaridades de natureza anatômica e terapêutica que remeteram a uma identificação positiva da vítima. Conclusão: A adoção de abordagens tecnológicas e a alocação de recursos humanos especializados para a identificação humana devem ser prioridades nos serviços de Medicina e Odontologia Legal, visando aumentar a eficiência e precisão no processamento das demandas usuais, bem como para solucionar eventuais desafios técnicos

For a long time, dental knowledge has proven to be a fundamental tool in determining the identity of victims of violent death, especially when they are charred, putrefied, mutilated or skeletonized, but also in atypical cases, such as fresh corpses. In this context, the present work aims to report the first case of odontological identification using the computerized tomography equipment of the Forensic Medical Institute (IML) of Goiânia-GO to obtain post-mortem (PM) information from an intact corpse, which was compared with antemortem (AM) panoramic radiograph data. Case Report: An individual victim of gunshot wounds was taken to the IML of Goiânia for routine examinations after dying in a hospital unit. Although the body was "fresh," fingerprint collection revealed a record whose quality did not allow the necessary points for a papilloscopic confrontation to be marked. The supposed relatives then presented antemortem panoramic radiography, which motivated the forensic team to use the newly installed computerized tomography equipment to obtain PM images, enabling the proper reconciliation process (AM x PM), where several anatomical and therapeutic similarities were identified leading to a positive identification of the victim. Conclusion: The adoption of technological approaches and the allocation of specialized human resources for human identification should be priorities in Forensic Medicine and Odontology services, aiming to increase efficiency and accuracy in processing usual demands, as well as to solve any technical challenges that may arise

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PURPOSE: The current study proposes the comparison of the visualization and identification of anatomical details between natural human temporal bone, its respective copy from three-dimensional printing, and the virtual model obtained from CBCT. METHODS: The sample consisted of undergraduate students in Dentistry (Group UE, n = 22), Postgraduate students in Radiology and Imaging (Group P-RI, n = 20), and Postgraduate students in Forensic Odontology (Group P-FO, n = 24). All participants attended a theoretical class on specialized anatomy of the temporal bone and subsequently performed the markings of 10 determined structures. RESULTS: The number of correct identifications was similar in natural bone and printed three-dimensional models in all groups (p > 0.05). The virtual model showed a significantly lower number of correct structures (p < 0.05) in the 3 groups. In general, there were significantly higher percentages of accurate answers among postgraduate students compared to undergraduate students. Most graduate students believed that the printed three-dimensional model could be used to teach anatomy in place of natural bone, while undergraduate students disagreed or were unsure (p < 0.05). Regarding the virtual tomographic image, in all groups, students disagreed or were not sure that its use would be beneficial in replacing natural bone. CONCLUSION: Three-dimensional and virtual models can be used as auxiliary tools in teaching anatomy, complementing practical learning with natural bones.

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Background: Estimating the age of majority is a challenging task in forensic odontology, especially because the third molars are usually the only developing teeth between the ages of 16 and 21 years. The London Atlas emerged as an alternative to estimate age using dental development, eruption and deciduous root resorption as parameters. The method has performed well in young age categories, while its performance for age estimation via third molars has been disputed. The present study tested the performance of the London Atlas to estimate the age of legal majority in a sample of individuals from the Amazon Region. Material and Methods: The sample consisted of 1.256 panoramic radiographs of women (n = 694) and men (n = 562) between 16 and 22.9 years. The method was applied to the maxillary (#28) and mandibular (#38) left third molars. For comparative purposes, the sample was divided into seven age groups: 16├ 16.99; 17├ 17.99; 18├ 18.99; 19├ 19.99; 20├ 20.99; 21├ 21.99; and 22├ 22.99 years. Chronological and estimated ages were compared descriptively by means of mean absolute errors (MAE) and root mean squared errors (RMSE), as well as through Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves and their area under the curve (AUC). Results: The MAE of the age estimates using tooth #28 was 1.76 years for females and 1.52 years for males. When the tooth #38 was used, the MAE for the females and males were 1.68 and 1.51 years, respectively. The MAE and RMSE increased in ascending order between age categories. Tooth #28 led to 74% of correct classifications around the age of legal majority, while tooth #38 reached 77%. The area under the curve was 0.75 for tooth #28 and 0.73 for tooth #38. Conclusions: The London Atlas should be used carefully to estimate the age of legal majority and not as a single method when the age threshold is 18 years. Key words:Age determination by teeth, forensic dentistry, forensic science, third molar.

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PURPOSE: This study aimed to analyze black tattoo inks by means of energy dispersive spectroscopy and backscattered scanning electron microscopy. METHODS: The sample consisted of five types of commercial tattoo pigments of the black colour (Easy Glow™, Electric Ink™, Iron Works™, Master Ink™, and Viper™). An Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) detector (Silicon Drift Detector - SDD - type) attached to a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) device (Tescan Vega3 LMU, Libusina, Czech Republic) was used. X-ray characteristic signs were detected for each tattoo ink in an interval between 0 and 2.5 keV. The electron acceleration potential in the microscope was 15 keV. Two regions were analyzed for each sample (n = 10). On each region, a micrography of backscattered electrons (BSE) was obtained. Means and standard deviations (SD) of the weight percentages (Wt%) were calculated. RESULTS: C and O were predominant, with a mean O/C ratio between 2.69 and 2.74 Wt%. Electric Ink and Master Ink were the most similar pigments, while Easy Glow was the most distinctive - with agglomerates of Al that had a concentration 25 × higher than other specimens. Other compounds detected in the sample were Cl and Cu. CONCLUSION: EDS and SEM were efficient to distinguish black tattoo inks. These are our preliminary outcomes on the use of EDS and SEM to analyze black tattoo inks. Thus, careful interpretation is necessary to avoid rash applications in human identification practice.

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STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Guided surgical techniques in implant dentistry use virtual planning to accurately position implants. Understanding the effect of a surgeon's experience on guided surgery is essential to ensure successful outcomes. PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials was to evaluate the influence of a surgeon's experience on the accuracy of implant positioning in guided surgery for completely or partially edentulous patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines, searches were conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, SciELO, and nonpeer-reviewed literature databases. Studies that met the population, intervention, control, and outcome (PICO) strategy were included: a completely or partially edentulous maxilla or mandible, guided surgery performed by experienced and inexperienced surgeons, and assessing implant positioning accuracy. A random-effects meta-analysis with a 95% confidence interval was conducted using Stata 15.1. The risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB2), and evidence certainty was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) tool. The study was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) database (CRD42022302288). RESULTS: Three articles from 2017 to 2020 encompassing 43 participants (22 men and 21 women) with a mean age of 61.2 years and a total of 150 implants were included. No significant difference was found between experienced and inexperienced surgeons in terms of angular, cervical, or apical deviations of the implants (95% confidence interval, P<.05). The difference between surgeons regarding positioning accuracy was less than 0.01 degrees for angular deviation, 0.35 mm for apical deviation, and 0.16 mm for cervical deviation. Low heterogeneity was observed for angular deviations (Q P=.021, I2=34%, and t2<.001) and cervical deviations (Q P=.18, I2=45%, and t2=.064). High heterogeneity was observed for apical deviations (Q P<.001, I2=87% and t2=.522). The overall bias risk was moderate, with the evidence certainty ranging from low to moderate. CONCLUSIONS: In guided surgery, the surgeon's experience did not significantly impact the occurrence of deviations in implant positioning.

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Third molar development is used for dental age estimation when all the other teeth are fully mature. In most medicolegal facilities, dental age estimation is an operator-dependent procedure. During the examination of unaccompanied and undocumented minors, this procedure may lead to binary decisions around age thresholds of legal interest, namely the ages of 14, 16 and 18 years. This study aimed to test the performance of artificial intelligence to classify individuals below and above the legal age thresholds of 14, 16 and 18 years using third molar development. The sample consisted of 11,640 panoramic radiographs (9680 used for training and 1960 used for validation) of males (n = 5400) and females (n = 6240) between 6 and 22.9 years. Computer-based image annotation was performed with V7 software (V7labs, London, UK). The region of interest was the mandibular left third molar (T38) outlined with a semi-automated contour. DenseNet121 was the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) of choice and was used with Transfer Learning. After Receiver-operating characteristic curves, the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.87 and 0.86 to classify males and females below and above the age of 14, respectively. For the age threshold of 16, the AUC values were 0.88 (males) and 0.83 (females), while for the age of 18, AUC were 0.94 (males) and 0.83 (females). Specificity rates were always between 0.80 and 0.92. Artificial intelligence was able to classify male and females below and above the legal age thresholds of 14, 16 and 18 years with high accuracy.

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OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the curve markings performed prior to panoramic and cross-sectional reconstructions can influence the planning of oral implants. METHODS: Twenty oral radiologists landmarked the reference panoramic curves in 25 CBCT scans of the mandible. Bone height was measured on the resulting cross-sectional slices in the edentulous region of the lower first molar. The following data were recorded: (1) number of landmarks used to build each reference curve; (2) shape of the reference curve (inverted "U", inverted "V" or "horseshoe"); and (3) measurement in the first molar region. The data were assessed for variability based on the number of landmarks, the shape of the reference curve, and the measurements obtained. RESULTS: The number of landmarks used to guide the panoramic reconstruction varied among radiologists (p < 0.05), but most of them draw curves in inverted "U" shape (68-100%). The reproducibility of the measurements taken in the edentulous mandibular first molar region was excellent (84.7%). The number of landmarks and the shape of the curve did not have a significant influence on the reproducibility of the measurements (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Variations of the operator-dependent steps during the panoramic reconstructions occur but do not play a significant part changing the measurements taken for oral implant planning.

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ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Specific types of violence such as intimate partner sexual violence and intimate partner homicide occur more frequently in rural areas. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to systematically review the literature on the knowledge and attitudes of rural healthcare providers regarding cases of domestic violence against women. DESIGN AND SETTING: Systematic review developed at Universidade Federal de Uberlândia. METHODS: We conducted an electronic search of six databases, which only included observational studies, regardless of the year, language, or country of publication, except for studies that used secondary data and were exclusively qualitative. Two reviewers performed the selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment using a specific Joanna Briggs Institute tool. RESULTS: Six studies met the inclusion criteria. All the studies had a low risk of bias. Approximately 38% of these professionals identified injuries caused by violence in patients. When asked about knowing the correct attitude to take in cases of confirmed violence, between 12% and 64% of rural healthcare providers answered positively; most of them would refer to specialized institutions and promote victim empowerment and counseling. The number of professionals with an educational background in the field ranged from 16% to 98%. CONCLUSIONS: The evident disparity across studies shows that some professionals have suboptimal knowledge and require training to adopt the correct attitude when identifying female victims of domestic violence in clinical practice. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: This systematic review was registered in the Open Science Framework Database under the registration http://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/B7Q6S.

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BACKGROUND: Specific types of violence such as intimate partner sexual violence and intimate partner homicide occur more frequently in rural areas. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to systematically review the literature on the knowledge and attitudes of rural healthcare providers regarding cases of domestic violence against women. DESIGN AND SETTING: Systematic review developed at Universidade Federal de Uberlândia. METHODS: We conducted an electronic search of six databases, which only included observational studies, regardless of the year, language, or country of publication, except for studies that used secondary data and were exclusively qualitative. Two reviewers performed the selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment using a specific Joanna Briggs Institute tool. RESULTS: Six studies met the inclusion criteria. All the studies had a low risk of bias. Approximately 38% of these professionals identified injuries caused by violence in patients. When asked about knowing the correct attitude to take in cases of confirmed violence, between 12% and 64% of rural healthcare providers answered positively; most of them would refer to specialized institutions and promote victim empowerment and counseling. The number of professionals with an educational background in the field ranged from 16% to 98%. CONCLUSIONS: The evident disparity across studies shows that some professionals have suboptimal knowledge and require training to adopt the correct attitude when identifying female victims of domestic violence in clinical practice. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: This systematic review was registered in the Open Science Framework Database under the registration http://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/B7Q6S.

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Forensic Odontology deals with the presentation of dental evidence in a court of law. An academic exploration revealed instances of technical challenges within the field. This study endeavours to delve into the spheres where these challenges occur, with the core objective of enhancing the quality of practice. An integrative literature review was conducted using the online platforms SCOPUS and Web of Science. Based on the selection criteria, 29 pertinent papers dated 2000-2023 were included. Quantitative analysis of the categories of selected articles was performed using Microsoft Excel 2019 (Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA, USA). Technical concerns were reported in all facets of Forensic Odontology with the general role of expert witnesses being reported the most (n=8; 27.58%). Within the different facets of the field, age estimation was the most prominent area of concern (n=8; 27.58%) and child abuse and neglect (n=1; 3.57%) represented the least reported category. Findings indicate that there is a need to prioritize avenues to enhance the quality of practice in the general role of expert witnesses and the specific area of dental age estimation. To this end, increased support for researchers must be provided to help validate methodologies. It is advisable to institute mandatory formal training and proficiency testing within the field. Inadequate knowledge of dentists regarding child abuse and neglect has been noted, demonstrating the need for more dedicated quality training. Recommendations for Forensic Odontologists have been curated combining this study's results and the codes of ethics of various forensic organisations

A Odontologia Legal trata da apresentação de provas odontológicas em juízo. Uma exploração acadêmica revelou exemplos de desafios técnicos na área. Este estudo procura aprofundar as esferas onde estes desafios ocorrem, com o objetivo central de melhorar a qualidade da prática. Foi realizada uma revisão integrativa da literatura utilizando as plataformas online SCOPUS e Web of Science. Com base nos critérios de seleção, foram incluídos 29 artigos pertinentes datados de 2000-2023. A análise quantitativa das categorias dos artigos selecionados foi realizada no Microsoft Excel 2019 (Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA, EUA). Preocupações técnicas foram relatadas em todas as áreas da Odontologia Legal, sendo o papel geral dos peritos o mais relatado (n=8; 27,58%). Dentro das diferentes áreas de atuação, a estimativa da idade foi a área de preocupação mais proeminente (n=8; 27,58%), e o abuso infantil e a negligência (n=1; 3,57%) representaram a categoria menos relatada. Os resultados indicam que há uma necessidade de priorizar caminhos para melhorar a qualidade da prática no papel geral dos peritos e na área específica da estimativa da idade dental. Para este efeito, deve ser prestado maior apoio aos investigadores para ajudar a validar metodologias. É aconselhável instituir treinamento formal obrigatório e testes de proficiência na área. Foi observado um conhecimento inadequado dos dentistas sobre abuso e negligência infantil, demonstrando a necessidade de uma formação mais dedicada e de qualidade. As recomendações para Dentistas Forenses foram selecionadas combinando os resultados deste estudo e os códigos de ética de várias organizações forenses.

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Background and Objectives: A comprehensive understanding of the position of third molar roots and adjacent structures, such as the maxillary sinus (MS), is essential for safe extractions. Diagnostic imaging plays a fundamental role in achieving accurate treatment planning. This study aimed to compare panoramic radiography (PR) and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) for the evaluation of maxillary third molar roots and their relationship with the MS. Materials and Methods: Two trained radiologists evaluated third molar images. The number of roots, morphology (fused/conical, divergent, dilacerated, or atypical), and their relationship with the MS in PR and CBCT were registered. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed using the weighted Kappa test. Results: Regarding the number and morphology of the roots, Kappa values showed moderate (κ = 0.42) and fair agreement (κ = 0.38), respectively. Regarding the proximity with the MS, most of the roots showed close contact (30.6%), or 1/3 of root superimposition (35%), in PR evaluation, while in CBCT, the third molars were in contact with the MS floor (32%), and with alveolar domes (27.2%). Conclusions: PR is a moderately reliable image technique to identify the number of roots and root morphology of maxillary third molars. PR, however, does not provide any radiographic signs that clearly indicate the anatomical relationship between the maxillary third molar roots and the maxillary sinus detected in CBCT images.

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Junto às tecnologias que surgem para aprimorar a Odontologia mundial, emergem temáticas que progressivamente prosperam no obscuro e na incerteza. Tais "áreas odontológicas" se caracterizam por uma roupagem prolixa e de alto apelo público (como por meio de inferências sobre o emocional e os mistérios do corpo humano). Em tempos de disseminação da psiconeurodontologia e (bio)decodificação dental, assim como da incerteza acerca de sua confiabilidade, faz-se imperativa a busca pela fundamentação científica que sustenta esta temática. Para isto, foi realizada uma revisão de escopo seguindo as recomendações do PRISMA-ScR e JBI. Uma ampla busca foi realizada em cinco bases de dados e em parte da literatura cinza. Não houve restrição quanto ao ano de publicação e nem quanto ao idioma. Os dados foram coletados e expostos na forma narrativa/descritiva. De maneira complementar, utilizou-se a ferramenta JBI para avaliação da qualidade metodológica. A busca resultou em 4.785 registros iniciais, dos quais somente dois foram classificados como elegíveis. Ambos os estudos foram detectados a partir da literatura cinzenta e consistiam em trabalhos peruanos de conclusão de curso em nível de graduação (Bacharelado) em Odontologia. Os trabalhos aferiam a ocorrência de lesão de cárie em quadrantes de dentes permanentes e decíduos e correlacionavam com um questionário psicoemocional. Os dois trabalhos concluíram em prol da aplicação da psiconeurodontologia e da (bio)decodificação dental como ferramentas adicionais ao armamentário diagnóstico do Cirurgião-dentista. Detectou-se alto risco de viés, em especial acerca das limitações metodológicas dos estudos elegíveis. Tendo em vista os métodos e resultados observados nos estudos elegíveis, pode-se concluir que não há fundamentação científica na psiconeurodontologia ou na (bio)decodificação dental, muito menos validade e confiabilidade para a sua aplicação na prática clínica odontológica atual

Along with the technologies that emerged to improve Dentistry worldwide, there are themes that progressively dive into darkness and uncertainty. Such "dental areas" are characterized by a verbose approach and strong public appeal (such as through inferences about the emotions and mysteries of the human body). In times of dissemination of psychoneurodontology and dental (bio)decoding, as well as uncertainty about their reliability, the search for alleged scientific foundations that support this theme is imperative. To this end, a scoping review was carried out following the recommendations of PRISMA-ScR and JBI. A broad search was carried out in five databases and part of the gray literature. There was no restriction on the year of publication or language. Data were collected and presented in narrative/descriptive form. Complementarily, the JBI tool was used to assess methodological quality. The search resulted in 4.785 initial records, of which only two were classified as eligible. Both studies were detected from the gray literature and consisted of Peruvian studies at Bachelor's degree in Dentistry. The studies measured the occurrence of caries lesions in quadrants of permanent and deciduous teeth and correlated them with a psychoemotional questionnaire. The two studies concluded in favor of the application of psychoneurodontology and dental (bio)decoding as additional tools to the dental surgeon's diagnostic armamentarium. A high risk of bias was detected, especially regarding the methodological limitations of the eligible studies. Considering the methods and results observed in the eligible studies, it can be concluded that there is no scientific basis in psychoneurodontology or dental (bio)decoding, as well as lack of validity and reliability for its application in current clinical dental practice

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Knowing an individual's age is necessary for several situations, both in the living and the deceased. The London Atlas uses dental development and eruption to estimate age. Testing the method in different populations is necessary to assess its performance. This study aimed to assess the performance of the London Atlas method in a Russian sample using panoramic radiographs. A sample of 703 panoramic radiographs of Russian individuals (n = 405 females, 57.61% and n = 298 males, 42.39%) with ages between 8 and 23 years were analyzed. The results showed overestimation in individuals from 8 to 14 years and underestimation from 15 to 23 years. The mean difference between estimated and chronological ages did not exceed 0.7 years among individuals with ages below 19 years. The difference increased to over three years in individuals from 20 to 23 years. Statistically significant differences were found between females and males between 17 and 18 years (p<0.05). The London Atlas is suitable for Russian children and adolescents aged between 8 and 19 years; however, it showed unsatisfactory results for application in individuals over 20 years (AU).

Conhecer a idade de um indivíduo, vivo ou morto, é essencial em diversas situações. O método London Atlas utiliza desenvolvimento e erupção dentais para estimar a idade. Testar o método em diferentes populações é importante para avaliar sua performance. Esse estudo objetivou analisar o desempenho do London Atlas em uma amostra de origem russa, utilizando radiografias panorâmicas. Uma amostra de 703 indivíduos russos (n = 405 mulheres, 57,61% e n = 298 homens, 42,39%), com idades entre 8 e 23 anos foram analisadas. Resultados obtidos mostram uma superestimação em indivíduos de 8 a 14 anos e subestimação nos grupos de 15 a 23 anos. A diferença média entre idades estimadas e reais não excederam o valor de 0,7 anos nos indivíduos com idade abaixo de 19 anos. Essa diferença aumentou em até três anos em indivíduos de 20 a 23 anos. Diferenças estatisticamente significantes foram encontradas entre homens e mulheres com 17 e 18 anos (p<0,05). O London Atlas é adequado para crianças e adolescentes de origem russa, com idades de 8 a 19 anos. No entanto, observou-se resultados insatisfatórios para sua aplicação em indivíduos acima de 20 anos (AU).

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The secondary dentin deposition that occurs after the tooth formation process results in a decrease in pulp cavity volume in adolescents and adults. The purpose of this critical review was to correlate pulpal and/or dental volume on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) with chronological age approximation. A subobjective was to investigate which methodology and CBCT technical parameters would be most appropriate to evaluate this correlation. This critical review followed the PRISMA guidelines, and it was conducted by a search through PubMed, Embase, SciELO, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library databases, as well as gray literature. Primary studies that used pulp volume, or pulp chamber to tooth volume ratio measured using CBCT were included. Seven hundred and eight indexed and 31 non-indexed records were identified. A qualitative analysis was performed including 25 selected studies with a total of 5100 individuals, age ranging from 8 to 87 years without sex predilection. The most used method was pulp volume/tooth volume. CBCT voxel size ranged between 0.09 and 0.5. Manual segmentation associated with threshold algorithms was used in most of the studies. Correlation between the pulp volume/tooth volume ratio was moderate: -0.66 for the upper central incisors, -0.59 for upper canines and -0.56 for lower canines. High heterogeneity was observed among the studies. It is concluded that pulp volume should be used with caution in age estimation. Evidence supports the preferable use of upper incisors with pulp volume/tooth volume ratio for age estimation. There is not enough evidence that voxel size interferes in age estimation by pulp volume.

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To apply Demirjian's seven (1973, D7) and four (1976, D4) teeth methods in a sample of Brazilian children and compare their performances for age estimation. Panoramic radiographs of 1200 children (600 females and 600 males) were collected from Southeast Brazil. The children were equally distributed (n = 60 females and 60 males) between age intervals of 1 year between 6 and 15.9 (mean age = 10.9; standard deviation [SD]: 2.9) years. D7 and D4 dental age estimation methods were applied by two observers and were compared based on their error rates (error = estimated age-chronological age). Both methods overestimated the chronological age (p < 0.0001). D7 led to overestimations of 0.71 (p < 0.0001) in females and 0.83 (p < 0.0001) in males, while the overestimations with D4 were 0.14 (p = 0.0067) and 0.73 (p < 0.0001) for females and males, respectively. The mean age estimated by D7 was 11.7 (SD: 3.1) years, while for D4, it was 11.3 (SD: 3.3) years. Intra- and interobserver agreement was ≥ 0.98. D4 optimized the performance of radiographic dental age estimation compared to D7. Improvements were reflected in the total sample and separately for female and male children from Southeast Brazil.

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The search for aesthetic procedures in the health sector have increased in the last years. The increase in the number of procedures brought together a higher number of lawsuits, especially when it comes to the injection of dermal fillers. This study aimed to revisit the jurisprudence of the State Court of São Paulo, Brazil, to investigate the risk factors behind the lawsuits and convictions of health care professionals after the injection of dermal fillers. The sample consisted of 46 lawsuits published between 2000 and 2022 in the State Court of São Paulo, Brazil. Data extracted from each lawsuit were: the year of publication, the reason behind the lawsuit, the defendant (individual or legal entity), sex of the plaintiff, type of dermal filler, whether there was a technical legal/forensic examination of the case and conviction. Most of the lawsuits were published between 2020 and 2022 (n = 26, 56.52%). The presence of intercurrences was the most common reason behind the lawsuits (n = 27, 58.69%). The defendants were mostly health care providers (n = 16, 34.78%), individually, and their combination with legal entities (n = 16, 34.78%), separately (the rest was legal entities alone). Female plaintiffs were predominant (n = 36, 78.26%), as well as the use of hyaluronic acid as dermal filler (n = 35, 76.08%). Technical legal/forensic examination was registered in 34 lawsuits (73.91%). Most of the defendants were convicted (n = 25, 54.34%). The chance of conviction was 3,9 times higher if the case was judged between 2017-2019 compared to 2020-2022 (p = 0.05); and 3,4 times higher if the case was based on intercurrences (p = 0.05). It is estimated that convictions in lawsuits after dermal filler injections might decrease in more recent cases. However, higher chances of conviction might be expected in the presence of intercurrences (e.g. accidents or complications) in the State São Paulo, Brazil.