Mobile Images in the visualisation of characteristic dental features

dc.contributor.advisorBernitz, Herman
dc.contributor.coadvisorDavidson, Christy
dc.contributor.emailvimby4@gmail.comen_ZA
dc.contributor.postgraduateManyukwi, Vimbai
dc.date.accessioned2022-03-31T13:47:52Z
dc.date.available2022-03-31T13:47:52Z
dc.date.created2022-09
dc.date.issued2022
dc.descriptionDissertation (MSc (Odontology))--University of Pretoria, 2022.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractIdentification in forensic odontology requires that a known characteristic of an individual’s dentition be compared with the same characteristic of the unknown decedent. A vast number of bodies remain unidentified at medico-legal laboratory facilities in South Africa (SA). Determining the extent of this occurrence in SA is important, as these unidentified bodies have many social and economic consequences. When a positive identification has been established, investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death can begin. The positive identification of a body allows for closure to be obtained by that individual’s family and friends. In SA a number of factors render forensic identification of unknown individuals challenging. Many South Africans do not have access to modern dentistry, and consequently do not have ante-mortem dental records. In low socioeconomic areas of SA, where individuals might not have access to oral healthcare, studies show that 1 in 3 of those individuals has access to a smart phone. This study aimed at investigating mobile images, hereafter referred to as selfies, as a source of dental information in the form of characteristic dental features. Results of this study were disappointing as identifiable dental features could only be seen in 61 (5.6%) of the collected images (N=1098). The low number of useable selfies collected in this study could be the result of a lack of smiles and the poor quality of the images received. Individuals with poor dental aesthetics would commonly choose to take a selfie with a closed mouth where their teeth would not be visible. The most commonly identified dental features included: diastemas (49.2%), dental jewellery (37.7%), crowding (16.4%), difference in tooth height (16.4%) discoloured (8.2%) and missing teeth (8.2%). The importance of good oral health and an aesthetic smile cannot be over emphasised. Awareness of the importance of selfies in forensic identification should be increased.en_ZA
dc.description.availabilityUnrestricteden_ZA
dc.description.degreeMSc (Odontology)en_ZA
dc.description.departmentOdontologyen_ZA
dc.identifier.citation*en_ZA
dc.identifier.otherS2022en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/84758
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherUniversity of Pretoria
dc.rights© 2022 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
dc.subjectUCTDen_ZA
dc.subjectHuman forensic identificationen_ZA
dc.subjectIdentification
dc.subjectSelfies
dc.subjectMobile Phones
dc.subjectRecord Keeping
dc.subjectDental Features
dc.titleMobile Images in the visualisation of characteristic dental featuresen_ZA
dc.typeDissertationen_ZA

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