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Identification through dentures

Labelled dentures can be important in identifying people who have lost their memory or in identifying the bodies of those who have died in disasters. Forensic dentistry has long considered marking dentures, although no standardised method has been developed. Of the many options considered, none maintain the marking after the dentures break or are altered in occurrences such as plane crashes, which can result in a marked increase in temperature. This study examined a ceramic marking system that can endure high temperatures and can also be used in fixed partial dentures.

Fireproof labelling

Labels on dentures can provide identifying information in disasters such as earthquakes, fires and plane crashes...

In disasters such as earthquakes, landslides, fires or plane crashes that can result in many deaths, or for patients who have lost their memory owing to personal health issues such as Alzheimer's disease, labels on dentures can provide identifying information.2,3,4,5 Studies have examined this concept before, but no fireproof method has been devised. Previous attempts have focused on removable dentures, but the marking methods have either ruined the denture aesthetics or increased the denture weight, or the flammable or fragile nature of the dentures has rendered them unsuitable for a marking system.

To be useful, a marking label for dentures must be easy to apply and inexpensive, must give definite information in every situation, must not alter the structure of the dentures, must not affect denture aesthetics, and must resist high temperatures and fire.2,6,7

The ceramic marking technique that we studied is easy to perform and is not very expensive, especially if a special marking device can be improved. It gives exact information in every situation regardless of whether fire or water is involved and is aesthetic, as it involves the palatal area of the dentures. In addition, this technique can be used with crown and bridge restorations.

A large number of people use fixed or removable dentures, and this technique would be appreciated by many.

Labelling technique

The labelling technique involves printing a number code on paper, photographing the paper and making a negative of the photo, and transferring the negative image to a piece of silk (Fig. 1). The silk is stretched over the rim of the device used to pattern ceramic faience, and a plain piece of white faience (15 × 25 mm) is placed beneath the rim (Fig. 2). Then, faience paint containing black ceramic is applied to the negative barcode region on the silk, and a machine forces the paint through the silk, creating an image on the white faience. Finally, the faience is heated to 860°C for 30 minutes in an industrial porcelain oven, after which we ensure that the barcode can be read. If the barcode is legible, the faience is ground down to measure 3 × 5 × 1 mm (Fig. 3), placed in a 3.5 × 5.5 × 1.5 mm slot in the removable partial denture (Fig. 4), and sealed using self-curing acrylic resin (Fig. 5). For a fixed prosthesis, a crown is placed under the same device, ceramic paint is transferred, and then the crown is heated and stabilised (Fig. 6).

Figure 1
figure 1

The negative transfer of the barcode on the silk

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Figure 2
figure 2

The pattern device

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Figure 3
figure 3

The barcoded faience piece

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Figure 4
figure 4

The barcoded faience piece placed in a 3.5 × 5.5 × 1.5 mm slot

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Figure 5
figure 5

The barcode sealed using self-curing acrylic resin

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Figure 6
figure 6

Barcoded porcelain crown

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A new horizon

In the 1980s, researchers such as Heath8 and Stevenson9 proposed different techniques for writing names on removable dentures. In the 1990s, researchers such as Ling,10 Furst,11 Ibrahim12 and Berry13 wrote personal information on different materials that were then buried in the acrylic. ID labels became more technological in the 2000s, making use of microchips and radio-frequency devices. In 2002, Rajan and Julian14 reported a method based on electronic microchip manufacturing technology.

To maximise the amount of data that could be written on a metallic ID label, Ling et al.15 used a high-power copper vapour laser in 2003. In 2004, Millet and Jeanin6 implanted a radio-frequency ID transponder in a complete upper denture. Unfortunately, none of these techniques are sufficiently fireproof, and none can be used with fixed partial dentures. By contrast, markings made using our technique can survive temperatures above 600°C, which can be encountered in plane crashes, and can be applied to a simple porcelain crown. Markings made on a fixed prosthesis by this technique are not affected by environmental wear such as brushing, solid foods and polishing, and are not affected unless the porcelain facet breaks down. In addition, because the surface is smooth, bacteria do not accumulate over the label.

We performed this study in a ceramic faience factory under very primitive conditions, and the technique was difficult to perform. With the development of a porcelain labelling device, the technique should become easier and less expensive.

The authors thank the Megaser Faience factory and Diser Ceramic factory in Diyarbakır, Turkey.

Figure 7
figure 7

Reading the barcode

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