Smiling facial reconstruction with exposed teeth: Benefits for improving recognition in the identification of unidentified skeletal remains

Abstract

Abstract

The challenging task of tracking missing persons and identifying unidentified bodies often involves analyzing skeletal remains. Although biological data can be collected from these remains for scientific examination, it is not always sufficient. For example, even if DNA is successfully extracted from bones, it may not match any individual in an existing database, making further investigation necessary. Facial images are often the most effective data for identification, as a person’s face is the primary feature that enables recognition by acquaintances or relatives. This can be achieved through a technique known as facial reconstruction. In addition to reconstructing facial features such as the overall shape of the face, eyebrows, eyes, nose, and lips, the appearance of teeth during a smile can also serve as a critical characteristic that people tend to remember. Since teeth are the only part of the skull visible while a person is alive, and because each individual has unique dental traits and arrangements, they provide important clues. Therefore, in addition to conventional facial reconstructions, reconstructing a smiling face with exposed teeth offers another option that may increase the likelihood of successfully tracking and identifying unidentified skeletal remains.