The advances of digital dentistry in forensic practice: virtopsy as Forensic Dentistry technique for human identification
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2317-2770.v27i2p53-59Keywords:
Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Autopsy, Forensic DentistryAbstract
An autopsy is a technique used mainly to establish the cause of death. However, this procedure is invasive and can emotionally affect family members and friends of the deceased. Aiming at a minimally invasive autopsy and a digital mapping of the inside of a corpse, the virtopsy project was created in 2000, in Switzerland. It advocates the use of imaging exams in forensic medicine, especially those obtained through computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. This literature review aimed to elucidate how virtopsy can be useful for human identification in forensic dentistry and to discuss the main advantages and disadvantages of the technique. A search for scientific articles was conducted in the PubMed/MEDLINE, SciELO and Lilacs databases, between the years 2000 and 2021, using the keywords “X-Ray Computed Tomography”, “Magnetic Resonance Imaging”, “Necropsy” and “Forensic Dentistry” in Portuguese, English,
and Spanish. For a broad approach to the articles, Boolean operators “AND” and “OR” were used. Virtopsy has several indications, which include, for example, human identification through dental arches. In addition, the advantages of virtopsy
are that, unlike conventional necropsy, it is non-invasive, cadaver information is retained, investigation time is reduced, and a broad ante-mortem and post-mortem comparison is possible. Its main disadvantage is still the high costs and lack of
trained professionals. It is possible to conclude that virtopsy is a useful tool, especially in the process of human identification in Forensic Dentistry, presenting advantages when compared to conventional autopsy.
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