Adli Tıp Bülteni (Aug 2021)

Evaluation of Tooth Loss as a Permanent Mark on The Face: A Survey Study

  • Yasemin Balcı,
  • Kağan Gürpınar,
  • Hüseyin Afşin,
  • Başar Çolak

DOI
https://doi.org/10.17986/blm.1401
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 26, no. 2
pp. 92 – 100

Abstract

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Objective:There are different opinions about whether tooth loss is accepted as a permanent mark on the face or not. The aim of this study is to contribute to the implementation partnership by determining the opinions about “whether the traumatic tooth loss is accepted as a permanent mark on the face or not” within the framework of the Turkish Penal Code.Methods:In the study, an informative text, containing different views, was presented to forensic medicine specialist, dentists and judiciary. Then, a questionnaire including their areas of expertise, their province, duration of experience, and their opinions on the subject was applied. The survey data were analyzed and evaluated through a statistical program.Results:A total of 162 people, including 103 forensic medicine specialists/residents, 38 lawyers and 21 dentists, participated in the survey. The 38.8% of forensic medicine specialists/residents, 90.5% of dentists and 34% of lawyers were working in three major cities (Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir). While 61.1% of the participants had 10 (-) years of experience, 38.5% had 11 (+) years of experience. While the forensic medicine specialists and residents were statistically significantly higher in the 10 (-) year experienced group, the majority of dentists had work experience of 11 years or more (p0.05). The opinions expressed by the participants in writing were also grouped and presented according to their areas of expertise.Conclusion:Teeth losses can be restored in a way that can create an aesthetic appearance very close to the original with today’s dentistry possibilities. On the other hand, people have to live with unnatural teeth instead of their natural teeth or live with tooth loss without having their teeth restored. Different causes, such as fear, economic constraints, timelessness or inability to reach to the appropriate physician, appear to be barriers to treatment. It has been determined that the general approach is to evaluate the incurable tooth loss as permanent mark on the face.

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