NCJ Number
207717
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 49 Issue: 6 Dated: November 2004 Pages: 1313-1318
Date Published
November 2004
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This investigation of the various factors that influence postmortem tooth loss used samples from a medieval church cemetery (n=110) and 2 samples from a series of mass graves made within the same time period in 1999 (n=402).
Abstract
The study selected adult skeletons with at least a complete mandible and/or maxillae. The total sample consisted of 401 maxillae and 443 mandibles, which belonged to 512 individuals. Regarding antemortem tooth loss, panoramic radiographs were used to determine the presence of periodontal disease based on the detection of alveolar bone changes that occur in periodontitis. Based on macroscopic and radiological criteria, all cases were divided into three categories, those with no periodontal disease, moderate periodontal disease, and severe periodontal disease. Statistical analysis of the data were done with chi-square, Kendall test, robust rank-order, and Spearman rank-ordered correlation tests. The study found that the length of the postmortem interval significantly influenced postmortem tooth loss (PMTL). Even a 1-year longer postmortem time for soft tissue decomposition resulted in a higher frequency of PMTL. This factor was of greater importance for PMTL than excavation method. PMTL most often affected the central maxillary incisors, followed by the other three groups of incisors; first and second molars from both jaws were least exposed to PMTL. The degree of alveolar bone loss associated with periodontal disease significantly affected both antemortem tooth loss and PMTL. 8 tables, 2 figures, and 22 references