Best Match Search WinID3

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Best Match Search WinID3

• Dental Training Module IV

Richard M. Scanlon, D.M.D.
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A special thanks to Linda Himmelberger for her
skills in editing the modules and for reviewing
the content for clarity in the presentation of
this topic.
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Participation Training
When viewing this slide presentation, from time
to time you will see a small WinID3 Icon with a
Stop Sign. This icon represents a reminder that
while reviewing this presentation you should stop
and open WinID3 to the viewing screen and attempt
the procedure or action that is being explained
in the PowerPoint module at that time. This will
make the training much more beneficial than
reading the slides alone. Remember, when you see
this icon, stop and open WinID3.
You may also print the slides for reference, by
right clicking on the screen in PowerPoint viewer
and selecting Print.
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Introduction WinID3 Best Match Search
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Objectives of this Module

• Understand the WinID3 Search Algorithms
• Conduct a Best Match Search of an AM dental
  database using a specific PM record.
• Using the Identifiers, Dental and Graphics
  Comparison screens to determine positive
  identifications
• Manipulate radiograph images within WinID3 to
  better conduct comparisons
• Document positive comparisons within WinID3

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Best Match Search
The heart of the WinID3 program is the feature
known as the Best Match Search. This feature
allows the operator to select a single antemortem
or postmortem record, and compare that record to
all the records in the parallel database. Simply
stated, a single dental postmortem record is
selected as the active record and it is compared
against all the dental antemortem records. This
comparison will then yield a prioritized list of
postmortem records, with the most likely match at
the top of the list. It is this feature that
makes WinID3 so extremely valuable to the
disaster forensic odontologist.
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Best Match Search
Without computer assistance in searching and
prioritizing a database, countless hours of
manual comparison would be involved in the
comparison process. This ability to rapidly
search and compare a record to a database is
especially valuable when dealing with fragmented
remains, since we are unable to reduce the
antemortem database size because not all of the
fragments of each decedent may be found. Thus
the use of the Best Match feature of WinID3 is of
paramount importance for the odontologist when
completing dental identifications in a disaster
deployment.
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Review Previous Modules

• In this module, we will be asking you to perform
  various commands and functions that have been
  explained in the previous training modules. It
  is assumed that you are now able to perform these
  functions. If you are unsure how to perform
  these WinID3 functions, please review the
  previous modules for assistance.

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Search Algorithms
Before we discuss the mechanism of a Best Match
Search, it is important to discuss how WinID3
searches and prioritizes the databases. When
WinID3 searches, it only utilizes the primary
codes, which denote the surfaces of the tooth
that are restored, the status of the tooth
(either present-virgin, missing, unerupted), or
no data. The secondary codes, which denote the
type of restorative material, presence of a root
canal, or even if a missing tooth is replaced by
a denture tooth, are not used as determining
factors for a WinID3 search.
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Search Algorithms
Even if errors in the AM or PM record are entered
into WinID3, the errors will not result in the
elimination of a record within a Best Match
Search, but will only lower the standing of that
particular record in the Best Match Search
results. In spite of this, accuracy when
entering the dental data is critical because the
secondary dental descriptors are what the
odontologist will often use for the determination
of a positive, possible or excluded match during
the comparison process.
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Best Match Search Postmortem against Antemortem
The majority of Best Match searches will be a
single postmortem record compared against the
antemortem database. In large disasters, the
antemortem database may be filtered first, or
an antemortem record may be compared to the
postmortem database. However, for ease of
training we will only search a postmortem record
against the entire unfiltered antemortem
database. More advanced filtered searches will
be discussed in a later module.
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Conducting a Best Match Search
To begin a Best Match Search, first open WinID3
and select the database that you wish to utilize
in your search. For this training we will use
the Sample database that is supplied with
WinID3. When the database is opened, the main
screen will appear and the postmortem record
screen should be selected and on top. Now
select the postmortem record 103. Your screen
should look like the next slide.
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Best Match Search
With the specific postmortem record that you wish
to compare to the antemortem database selected,
in this case record 103, all that is needed to
begin the search is to click on the Best Match
Button on the tool bar on the left of the screen.
Doing this will open a new window called the
Best Matches to Post Record 103.
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Best Match SearchWindow
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Best Match Search
As you see from the previous slide, there are
four search lists open in the window. They are

• Most Dental Hits
• Least Dental Mis-
  Matches
• Most Identifier Matches
• Most Restoration Hits

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Best Match Search Window
There are other areas of this window that are
also important to the search and comparison
procedures. There is a box for determining the
number of records that are to be displayed. This
is usually set at 25 however, it may be changed
to display a greater number of records.
Another window displays if you have employed any
filters for your search. Usually, no filters are
used, but occasionally with large databases a
filter may be required. Use of filters will be
discussed in a later training module.
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Best Match Search Window
Now that you have completed the best match
search, and the window is open we can see that in
our small database the antemortem record of
Donaldson is at the top of all of the lists.
In this instance we do not have to concern
ourselves with which list to use since the three
lists we commonly employ have the same
first ranked antemortem record. The Most
Identifier Match is not used as it only compares
the physical descriptors, which are often vague
in a disaster situation. We will now review
our probable match of Donaldson.
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Best Match Search Window
To compare a probable match of the postmortem
record 103 to the Donaldson record, all we have
to do is highlight the Donaldson record by left
clicking on the name Donaldson in either of the
three best match lists. Once we click on the
name Donaldson, and it is highlighted, we can now
click on the box labeled Comparison in the
lower right of the WinID3 screen.
You may also click on the Print this Page box
if you wish to print a record of your best match
search.
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Best Match Search Window
When you attempt a comparison such as PM 103
with the Donaldson record, you will now see
this screen.
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Dental Comparison Window
The Comparison window opens, and displays the
Dental Descriptor comparison of the postmortem
record 103 and the antemortem record of
Donaldson. When the dental descriptors of a
specific tooth are identical (match) the tooth
number is highlighted in
green. This allows the odontologist to make an
immediate assessment of the number of matches
present.
Other data such as sex age and race are shown to
immediately consider the validity of the match
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Dental Comparison Window
Even more important that what does match, is what
does not match. If the AM record would show a
missing tooth or a larger or more complicated
restoration than the PM record, it is probable
that a positive identification is not possible.
Most odontologists will give this window a
cursory review, checking mainly for the age, sex
and race as a indication whether to proceed with
the radiographic view.
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Radiograph Window
Now click on the Graphics Tab and the
radiographic comparison window will be displayed.

This window displays the dental radiographs of
the AM and PM record that is being compared.
You may print this page for a hard copy
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Radiographic Comparison
Most odontologists are visually oriented, so the
graphic display is the primary means of
determining the concordance between an AM and PM
record. We all know that two MO restorations are
identical in charting, but are completely
different when viewed by a radiograph. Therefore
his view will be the primary comparison screen.
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Radiographic Comparison
On the previous screen, the AM record is on top
and the PM record below. The size of the
radiographic image is determined by the Zoom
control above each of the images. To zoom, left
click anywhere on the zoom bar. Clicking on the
right of the zoom bar
will increase the image size one increment, and
clicking on the left of the bar will decrease the
image size one increment.
You may also zoom the image larger by holding
down the control key and clicking anywhere on the
radiograph with the right or left mouse button.
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Radiographic Comparison
When you have increased the size of the two
graphics suitable for viewing, you may move the
graphic images by the sliding bar on the bottom
and side of the graphic.
An easier method to move the graphic image is to
click on the graphic and while holding either the
right or left mouse button, move the mouse.
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Dental Comparison Window
In our comparison of PM record 103 and the AM
record of Donaldson, we can see that the
radiographs have sufficient concordance to be
considered a positive dental identification. To
document this you may print this page showing
the graphic comparison. A printed record of
the dental descriptor com-parison may also be
printed.
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Dental Comparison Window
In many instances, as with this example, either
the AM or PM radiographs may be best viewed in
the Dexis program. To view with the AM or PM
graphic, click the respective
Dexis button above the graphic.
When this button is clicked, the Dexis program
will open and the radiographs will be available
for viewing.
Unfortunately, the simultaneous comparison of AM
and PM is not possible with Dexis, only with
WinID3. The next slide shows the Dexis program
screen.
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Dexis Program Graphic Screen
The features of this program will be presented at
a later time. To return to WinID3, you just
click on the button on the top row of
icons.
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Dental Comparison Window
When comparing AM records to a specific PM
record, the AM record is displayed on the top.
To view the record that WinID3 considers the next
possible match,
click the Next Record button. To go back click
the Previous Record button. By doing so, you may
review all the AM records in your selected list
as prioritized by WinID3.
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Dental Comparison Window
When using the Next Record Button as discussed
in the previous slide, you will move down the
match list that you first choose in the Best
Match Screen. Often, but not frequently,
you may view 10-20 records and not have a
match. If all the AM records are available for
comparison, you may want to review another best
match list. A good second choice is the Most
Dental Hits list.
This list uses not restorations, but the teeth
present for the prioritization.
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Dental Comparison Window
While on that subject lets look at why we choose
one list versus another. When first viewing the
Best Match Screen, I will look at all the lists,
but prefer the Most Restoration Hits and Most
Dental Hits lists. They are usually very
similar, but there can be differences. When
completing the review of one list, I will look at
the other list and review the records present on
that list that are not present in the first list
reviewed. This will often lead to a match.
The Most Restoration Hits list is used
mostly when the PM record has numerous
restorations. The Most Dental Hits is used for
PM records that are fragmented or have few
restorations. This is a general rule, as most
often it is the experience of the odontologist
that determines which one will be used first.
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Filters
Filters are an advanced function of WinID3 and
will be reviewed later. However, it is important
to know when they are commonly employed. With
fragmented remains, or a single tooth, or to find
all the records in either the AM or PM database
that have a specific dental characteristic or
physical characteristic, filters can be of
assistance. As in large databases, we may know
that the PM record is that of a caucasian male.
We may then filter the database to eliminate all
the non-male, non-caucasian records before
conducting the Best Match Search. This
eliminates those records that are obviously not a
match and increases the efficiency of the Best
Match Search.
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Filters
Filters can also be used to find all records in a
PM or AM database with one specific restoration
or characteristic. For example, we may have no
dental record of a victim, but competent
anecdotal information that they have a lower
front tooth missing and a full upper denture.
With that information, we can use filters to find
all the PM records that have 23 - 26 missing
(since we dont know which tooth) and an upper
denture. If there are only a few records with
this possibility, we may provide a tentative list
of probable matches to the coroner to compare
with other forensic information that may lead to
a positive or possible identification.
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Documenting a Match
When a positive match has been verified by the
Comparison Team Leader, you may document the
match within WinID3. To do this, close all the
Comparison and Best Match screens and return to
the Main Screen of WinID3. If the AM or PM
records that match are not active on the main
screen, use the GO TO Button to bring the records
to the main screen as seen here.
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Documenting a Match
On either the AM or PM records that match, look
at the area listed as disposition. Click on the
small inverted triangle on the right of the box.
This will open the list of possible
Dispositions. Click on the Identified label
below Active.
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Documenting a Match
When you click on the Identified label, a
secondary box opens with a listing of all the AM
or PM records. In this instance the AM records.
Now click on the correct match to PM Record 103,
that of Donaldson.
This will now link the PM Record 103 to
Donaldson, as seen now in the header of the
active window.
If you make the Donaldson Record active, it will
be listed as identified, since documenting one
will document it for both.
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Home Study
Now that you have completed this module, further
study to become accomplished in this important
task is necessary. Complete all the comparisons
of the Postmortem database to the Antemortem
database ( the WinID3 Sample database) and
document the results in WinID3. Included with
this mailing is an additional database with over
200 AM and PM records that we will work with in
the future. As always, if you have any
questions concerning WinId3 please let me
know. Rich Scanlon
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The End Module IV-Best Match Search