title: Forensic facial approximation assessment: can application of different average facial tissue depth data facilitate recognition and establish acceptable level of resemblance?
abstract: Facial soft tissue thicknesses (FSTT) are important guidelines for modeling faces from skull. Amid so many FSTT data, Forensic artists have to make a subjective choice of a dataset that best meets their needs. This study investigated the performance of four FSTT datasets in the recognition and resemblance of Brazilian living individuals and the performance of assessors in recognizing people, according to sex and knowledge on Human Anatomy and Forensic Dentistry. Sixteen manual facial approximations (FAs) were constructed using three-dimensional (3D) prototypes of skulls (targets). The American method was chosen for the construction of the faces. One hundred and twenty participants evaluated all FAs by means of recognition and resemblance tests. This study showed higher proportions of recognition by FAs conducted with FSTT data from cadavers compared with those conducted with medical imaging data. Targets were also considered more similar to FAs conducted with FSTT data from cadavers. Nose and face shape, respectively, were considered the most similar regions to targets. The sex of assessors (male and female) and the knowledge on Human Anatomy and Forensic Dentistry did not play a determinant role to reach greater recognition rates. It was possible to conclude that FSTT data obtained from imaging may not facilitate recognition and establish acceptable level of resemblance. Grouping FSTT data by regions of the face, as proposed in this paper, may contribute to more accurate FAs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes, 2227, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil; Department of Community Dentistry, Araraquara School of Dentistry, São Paulo State University, Rua Humaitá, 1680, Araraquara, SP 14801-903, Brazil. Electronic address: laraherrera0@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Lara Maria
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes, 2227, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil. Electronic address: raissa.ananda@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Raíssa Ananda Paim
authors.initials: RAP
authors.lastname: Strapasson
authors.affiliation: Three-Dimensional Technologies Division, Renato Archer Information Technology Center, Rodovia Dom Pedro I, km 143.6, Jardim Santa Mônica, Campinas, SP 13069-901, Brazil. Electronic address: jorge.silva.cenpra@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jorge Vicente Lopes
authors.initials: JVL
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes, 2227, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil. Electronic address: rfmelani@usp.br.
authors.forename: Rodolfo Francisco Haltenhoff
authors.initials: RFH
authors.lastname: Melani
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000066499:Facial Recognition; D005260:Female; D018732:Forensic Anthropology / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
keywords: Face recognition; Facial approximation; Facial reconstruction; Facial tissue depths; Forensic dentistry; Forensic science