Marin Vodanovic | University of Zagreb (original) (raw)
Papers by Marin Vodanovic
12th International Symposium on Image and Signal Processing and Analysis (ISPA) , 2021
Sex assessment is an important step of the forensic process. Dental remains are often the only re... more Sex assessment is an important step of the forensic
process. Dental remains are often the only remains left to
examine due to their resistance to decay and external factors.
Contemporary forensic odontology literature describes multiple
methods for sex assessment from mandibular parameters, all of
which require manual measurements and expert training. This
study aims to explore the applicability of deep learning and image
analysis methods to automate this task, thus allowing for easier
reproducibility of assessments, reduction of the time experts lose
on repetitive tasks, and potentially better performance. We have
evaluated state-of-the-art deep learning models and components
on the largest dataset of individual adult tooth x-ray images,
consisting of 76293 samples. This study also explores the usage
of decayed or structurally altered teeth, with which contemporary
methods struggle. Two types of models are constructed, a family
of models specialized for specific tooth types, and a general model
that can assess the sex from any tooth type. We examine the
performance of those models per tooth type and age group, as
well as the impact of decayed and structurally altered teeth. The
specialized models achieve an overall accuracy of 72.40%, and
the general model reaches an overall accuracy of 72.68%
Journal of Forensic Odonto-Stomatology, 2021
The purpose of this study was to assess the correlation between the known chronological age and t... more The purpose of this study was to assess the correlation between the known chronological age and the dental cementum thickness (DCT) in male and female subjects in different age groups. Material and methods: The study sample consisted of 57 donor teeth of both sexes. Teeth were classified by donors' sex and divided into three age groups: 10-19, 30-39 and 60-69 years. Tooth roots were cut with transverse ground sections in the apical, middle, and cervical thirds. DCT measurements were made on photomicrographs of light microscope. The correlation between DCT and the chronological age was calculated using the Spearman correlation coefficient. Results: A positive correlation was found (r=0.47, p <0.001) between DCT and age of the donor. DCT decreased from apical to cervical ground section (median [IQR] apical section 216.72 [128.25-375.00] μm, middle section 158.44 [87.66-284.90] μm; cervical section 96.60 [70.05-165.59] µm). DCT variability was influenced by sex, number of tooth roots and the condition of the tooth crown. The influence differed depending on the location of the section, being most prominent cervically. Conclusion: The present study showed correlation of DCT with age, with significant influence of sex, number of tooth roots, condition of the tooth crown and location of the root section.
Molecules, 2021
Gender determination of the human remains can be very challenging, especially in the case of inco... more Gender determination of the human remains can be very challenging, especially in the
case of incomplete ones. Herein, we report a proof-of-concept experiment where the possibility of
gender recognition using Raman spectroscopy of teeth is investigated. Raman spectra were recorded
from male and female molars and premolars on two distinct sites, tooth apex and anatomical
neck. Recorded spectra were sorted into suitable datasets and initially analyzed with principal
component analysis, which showed a distinction between spectra of male and female teeth. Then,
reduced datasets with scores of the first 20 principal components were formed and two classification
algorithms, support vector machine and artificial neural networks, were applied to form classification
models for gender recognition. The obtained results showed that gender recognition with Raman
spectra of teeth is possible but strongly depends both on the tooth type and spectrum recording
site. The difference in classification accuracy between different tooth types and recording sites are
discussed in terms of the molecular structure difference caused by the influence of masticatory
loading or gender-dependent life events.
Expert Systems With Applications, 2022
Age estimation is a key component in forensic analysis, be it in legal proceedings or archeologic... more Age estimation is a key component in forensic analysis, be it in legal proceedings or archeological research. Current methods in forensic odontology are based on manual measurements of a wide array of morphometric parameters, typically from dental x-ray images, and occasionally from material remains. While those parameters follow a set progression during human development, thereby allowing current methods to precisely estimate the age of juveniles, estimation for adults and seniors proves to be more difficult. In this study, we explore the applicability of deep learning to the problem of chronological age estimation. We determine the best convolutional neural network model derived from state-of-the-art architectures, we determine the best performing model parameters using pretrained general-purpose vision model parameters as the starting point, and we perform ablation experiments to highlight which anatomical regions of the dental system contribute the most to the estimation. The proposed approach attains the lowest estimation error in literature for adult and senior subjects, which we verify on one of the largest datasets of panoramic dental x-ray images in literature. The dataset consists of 4035 panoramic dental x-ray images of male and female subjects with ages between 19 and 90 years. This study also evaluates the feasibility of the proposed model for age estimations of individual teeth, achieving an estimation error competitive with current methods while being fully automated. The estimation error is verified on our dataset of 76416 individual tooth images, which is the largest dataset to date in forensic odontology literature. Unlike current methods, dental alterations, decay, illnesses, or missing teeth do not pose a problem to the proposed model. With a median estimation error of 2.95 years for panoramic dental x-ray images and 4.68 years for individual teeth, and by deriving the model from state-of-the-art architectures, verifying those results on the largest dataset in forensic odontology literature and demonstrating the importance of different anatomical regions of the dental system for estimation, this study sets the baseline for future research of automated chronological age estimation in forensic odontology.
Journal of stomatology, 2022
Introduction: Dental tourism is the fastest growing form of medical tourism. In Europe, it repres... more Introduction: Dental tourism is the fastest growing form of medical tourism. In Europe, it represents 50% of activities in medical tourism. Many dentists in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia decide to engage in dental tourism. Objectives: The aim of this research was to collect and analyze data on dental students' perception of this phenomenon in these three countries. Material and methods: The study was conducted online in the form of an anonymous 20-question survey questionnaire. In total, 326 students participated in the survey. Data was processed using Microsoft Excel 2010 (MS Office, 2010) and Statistica (Tibco, v. 13.5.0.17, 2018) programs. Correlation coefficients were calculated by using Spearman rank test Results: The results showed that the majority of students had a positive opinion about dental tourism and that they perceived it as a profitable activity that positively affects the quality of dental work in their countries. Almost half of the students were not aware of problematic ethical aspects of dental tourism. Despite the current poor prospects due to the decline in dental tourism due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant proportion of students still have plans to engage in dental tourism in the future. Conclusions: The results showed that dental students perceived dental tourism as a positive phenomenon. Most of them said that dental tourism was a desirable career choice. Furthermore, it showed that dental students need better and more comprehensive education on ethical issues related to dental tourism.
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2022
steochondroma or osteocartilaginous exostosis is one of the most common benign tumors of the bone... more steochondroma or osteocartilaginous exostosis is one of the most common benign tumors of the bone. Causes
for the disease are yet unknown, but there are indications that they may be linked to abnormality in the growth
plate and possibly mutation in EXT1, EXT2 and EXT3 genes. Cases of reported osteochondromas range from
prehistoric to contemporary examples, are not limited geographically, and no evidence for sex predominance has
been reported.
Here we present a unique case of large pedunculated-type osteochondroma on the right fibula of an adult
female skeleton from the medieval site of Ilok-Krstbajer in eastern Croatia. In order to gain more insight into this
pathological change we used holistic approach consisting of a combination of techniques that have not been used
previously in the analysis of neoplasms from archaeological settings.
The cauliflower-shaped growth is 50 mm long in sagittal and 57.41 mm in transverse diameter with the tumor
exhibiting a bulbous, rough superior surface, and a flat, smoother inferior surface. The gross morphology of the
tumor together with radiological and histopathological features support the diagnosis of a proximal fibular
osteochondroma making it the first such case in an archaeological population. Based on archaeological context
and similar clinical cases it seems that the presented osteochondroma did not have major impact on the life-
quality of a woman affected by this pathology. The procedure used in this study is minimally invasive and
highly accurate, and as such sets new analytical criteria for studies of ancient bone neoplasms
International Journal of Legal Medicine, 2022
Aim This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy and precision of the Cameriere European formula, De... more Aim This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy and precision of the Cameriere European formula, Demirjian, Haavikko, and Willems methods for estimating dental age in a sample of children with permanent dentition in Croatia. Material and methods The study consisted of a sample of 1576 panoramic radiographs; a sub-sample of 84 OPGs, in which all first seven mandibular teeth were maturated, was excluded from the study. A final sample of 1492 (704 males and 788 females) aged 6.0 to 13.9 years was evaluated. Seven mandibular teeth from the left side of the mandible were analyzed, and dental age (DA) was determined by the Cameriere European formula, Demirjian method from 1976, Haavikko, and Willems methods and compared to chronological age (CA). In addition, the mean age difference (DA-CA), the mean absolute error (MAE) between dental and chronological age, the percentage of the individuals of dental age within ± 0.25 to ± 2 years of chronological age, and intra-observer and inter-observer statistics were calculated. Results The Cameriere European formula estimated the best dental age compared to the chronological age; the mean underestimation was − 0.4 years for both sexes, Haavikko underestimated by − 0.17 years, while Demirjian and Willems overestimated by 1.02 years and 0.48 years, respectively. The most significant difference showed the Demirjian method in 11-year-old and 12-year-old females. The MAE were 0.50 years, 1.01 years, 0.61 years, and 0.78 years in males and 0.51 years, 1.18 years, 0.61 years, and 0.70 years in females for the Cameriere European formula, Haavikko, Willems, and Demirjian methods, respectively. Furthermore, the Cameriere European formula showed the highest proportions of individuals with DA within ± 0.5 year difference of the CA, 61.5% in males and 59.6% in females. In addition, the Cameriere method showed the best intra-observer and inter-observer agreements. Conclusions Although the Demirjian method was used previously in Croatian children for legal, medical, and clinical purposes, the Cameriere European formula, Haavikko, and Willems were more accurate in the tested sample. According to our findings, the Cameriere European formula showed the best accuracy and precision in dental age assessment in Croatian children following Haavikko, and we recommend it as the method of the first choice in forensic and clinical analyses.
IEEE ACCESS, 2022
Determining the demographic characteristics of a person post-mortem is a fundamental task for for... more Determining the demographic characteristics of a person post-mortem is a fundamental task
for forensic experts, and the dental system is a crucial source of those information. Those characteristics,
namely age and sex, can reliably be determined. The mandible and individual teeth survive even the harshest
conditions, making them a prime target for forensic analysis. Current methods in forensic odontology rely on
time-consuming manual measurements and reference tables, many of which rely on the correct determination
of the tooth type. This study thoroughly explores the applicability of deep learning for sex assessment, age
estimation, and tooth type determination from x-ray images of individual teeth. A series of models that
use state-of-the-art feature extraction architectures and attention have been trained and evaluated. Their
hyperparameters have been explored and optimized using a combination of grid and random search, totaling
over a thousand experiments and 14076 hours of GPU compute time. Our dataset contains 86495 individual
tooth x-ray image samples, with a subset of 7630 images having additional information about tooth
alterations. The best-performing models are fine-tuned, the impact of tooth alterations is analyzed, and model
performance is compared to current methods in forensic odontology literature. We achieve an accuracy of
76.41% for sex assessment, a median absolute error of 4.94 years for age estimation, and an accuracy of
87.24% to 99.15% for tooth type determination. The constructed models are fully automated and fast, their
results are reproducible, and the performance is equal to or better than current state-of-the-art methods in
forensic odontology.
Homo, 2022
This paper presents the changes caused by macroabrasion of teeth on skeletal remains found in tom... more This paper presents the changes caused by macroabrasion of teeth on skeletal remains found in tomb No 4 in the west necropolis of the archeological site Kopila near Blato on the island of Korčula. The site archeologically dates back to the Late Iron Age, when the island was inhabited by the Illyrians. The aim of this study was to assess the dental age of the buried individuals at death and determine the type of their diet, which could give us a preliminary insight into the socioeconomic standard of the inhabitants of the settlement. The analyzed sample is part of the collection of excavated skeletal remains kept in the Vela Luka Cultural Center on the island of Korčula. 284 permanent teeth, 19 fragments of the maxilla and 20 fragments of the mandible were found in the tomb, which were classified into 32 individuals and by sex. Teeth were analyzed by metric and non-metric methods of determining dental status in order to assess the dental age at the time of death and the diet of the inhabitants. The dental age of individuals was determined by the Lovejoy method and the degree of tooth wear by the Smith-Knight method. The analysis of the stable isotope 14 C determined the exact time of death of the analyzed individuals. The tooth wear changes were very pronounced and present on 92.9% of teeth, equally on incisors and molars (p = 0.236). There is no significant gender difference (p > 0.05 for all teeth and jaw parts). There was no difference in the degree of tooth wear of the teeth of the mandible and maxilla (t =-0.266, p = 0.791), nor in the degree of tooth wear of the teeth of the maxilla right and left (t =-0.392, p = 0.702) or in the degree of tooth wear of the teeth of the mandible right and left (t =-0.889, p = 0.390). The average age of the analyzed population sample was 35.6 (±3.1) years. They were buried between 360-40 BC. Tooth wear changes observed on the analyzed teeth indicate a diet rich in hard, weakly cariogenic food with particles that were probably of inorganic origin, which caused an increased wear of tooth structures. The population was sedentary, agricultural type and the life expectancy was normal for the Late Iron Age. Besides, their socioeconomic status was good. The age at the time of their death was between 30 and 40 years. Further studies should include more accurate and standardized methods for assessing the condition.
Acta stomatologica Croatica, 2023
The aim of the study was to evaluate self-reported MADE during the COVID-19 pandemic in dental he... more The aim of the study was to evaluate self-reported MADE during the COVID-19 pandemic in dental healthcare practitioners and identify their possible risk factors. Material and Methods: An anonymous questionnaire was sent to doctors of dental medicine in the time period from February 2022 to August 2022. The online questionnaire included demographic characteristics and clinical characteristics: presence and deterioration of DED symptoms while wearing the face mask, personal protective face equipment, use of contact lenses, history of eye surgery, current use of medications, number of hours wearing face mask, and evaluation of subjective DED symptoms using modified Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI). Results: A total of 405 participants were included in the study and an overall prevalence of MADE was 29.1% (95% CI: 24.7-33.6). The participants who used masks more than 6 hours per day during the whole day reported a higher OSDI score (12.5 (IQR = 2.6-29.2)) compared to the participants who used masks less than 6 hours/day (6.25 (IQR = 0-22.92); Mann-Whitney U Test p = 0.066). Multivariable logistic regression revealed the following possible risk factors for self-reported MADE: age (older than 61 years) OR: 3.522 (95% CI 1.448-8.563); p=0.05, and wearing the face mask more than 6 h at work OR: 1.779 (95% CI 1.017-3.113); p=0.044. Conclusion: The prevalence of self-reported MADE among dental healthcare practitioners appears to be significant. The use of a face mask for a prolonged duration increases OSDI scores.
Acta stomatologica Croatica, 2023
Introduction: Artificial intelligence has been applied in various fields throughout history, but ... more Introduction: Artificial intelligence has been applied in various fields throughout history, but its integration into daily life is more recent. The first applications of AI were primarily in academia and government research institutions, but as technology has advanced, AI has also been applied in industry, commerce, medicine and dentistry. Objective: Considering that the possibilities of applying artificial intelligence are developing rapidly and that this field is one of the areas with the greatest increase in the number of newly published articles, the aim of this paper was to provide an overview of the literature and to give an insight into the possibilities of applying artificial intelligence in medicine and dentistry. In addition, the aim was to discuss its advantages and disadvantages. Conclusion: The possibilities of applying artificial intelligence to medicine and dentistry are just being discovered. Artificial intelligence will greatly contribute to developments in medicine and dentistry, as it is a tool that enables development and progress, especially in terms of personalized healthcare that will lead to much better treatment outcomes.
Bulletin of the International Association for Paleodontology, 2023
This paper discusses the importance of adopting and applying new technologies in scientific field... more This paper discusses the importance of adopting and applying new technologies in scientific fields to increase the rate of progress. It emphasises the need for networking and multidisciplinary collaboration to apply technologies developed for other purposes to solve scientific or professional issues. The paper reviews modern technologies used in archaeology and bioarchaeology, including ground penetrating radar, LiDAR, drones, 3D printing, remote sensing, GIS, and portable X-ray fluorescence. It also presents modern technologies in bioarchaeology such as DNA analysis, stable isotope analysis, radiocarbon dating, microscopic analysis, CT and MRI, and proteomics. The paper introduces palaeoradiology, a branch of radiology that uses imaging technologies to examine bioarchaeological or even archaeological material, and discusses its importance in gaining knowledge about the health, lifestyle, and causes of death of past populations.
Journal of Forensic Odonto-Stomatology, 2023
This review article aims to highlight the current possibilities for applying Artificial Intellige... more This review article aims to highlight the current possibilities for applying Artificial Intelligence in modern forensic medicine and forensic dentistry and present the advantages and disadvantages of its use. For this purpose, the relevant academic literature was searched using PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus. The application of Artificial Intelligence in forensic medicine and forensic dentistry is still in its early stages. However, the possibilities are great, and the future will show what is applicable in daily practice. Artificial Intelligence will improve the accuracy and efficiency of work in forensic medicine and forensic dentistry; it can automate some tasks; and enhance the quality of evidence. Disadvantages of the application of Artificial Intelligence may be related to discrimination, transparency, accountability, privacy, security, ethics and others. Artificial Intelligence systems should be used as a support tool, not as a replacement for forensic experts.
Micron, 2023
This paper presents a detailed analysis to directly compare the morphology and chemistry of human... more This paper presents a detailed analysis to directly compare the morphology and chemistry of human tooth layers using advanced scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques together with supporting data from energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) measurements. The aim of this study was to visualise and evaluate the structural and microanalytical differences of the mineralised hard tissues of human teeth. The extracted sound teeth without any pathologies were divided into the following groups: incisors, canines, premolars, and molars. Tooth samples were broken vertically to preserve the primary structures and to visualise individual tooth tissues. Specimens were also used to find variations in the elemental composition of tissues for different tooth groups. The average thickness of the enamel in the tooth groups studied was 1.1 mm and the average width of the enamel prisms was 4.2 µm, with the highest values observed for molars. The analysis of the chemical composition of the enamel showed that Ca and P were among the predominant elements. The average dentine thickness was 1.87 mm, with the highest values determined for molars, and the lowest for canines. The width of the dentinal tubules was less than 2 µm, for molars being significantly smaller. The analysis of the chemical composition of the dentine showed the highest O content of the all tooth tissues analyzed, while a lower P and Ca content was observed compared to the enamel. The cementum thickness averaged 0.14 mm, with the highest values observed for molars and the lowest for incisors. The analysis of the chemical composition of the cementum showed the lowest average O and P content, and the highest average C and N content, compared to the enamel and the dentine. Increasingly accurate imaging and analysis of dental hard tissue structures provides the opportunity for multifactorial evaluation in terms of their clinical application.
Tourism, 2023
Dental tourism is based on providing dental services outside the home country at more favourable ... more Dental tourism is based on providing dental services outside the home country at more favourable prices but with added value in tourist offers and arrangements. Croatia has become a destination for affordable and at the same time quality dental tourism due to low prices, high quality, and natural beauties. In addition to dental services, most clinics offer transportation and accommodation. Dental tourists want to combine dental services with vacation, which makes Croatia a desirable destination precisely because of the natural beauty and abundance of rich content. For this reason, many Croatian dentists have recognized dental tourism as an additional source of income or as their primary business orientation. Although clinics operating within dental tourism are located throughout Croatia, the most significant number is in Zagreb, Rijeka, and Split. Patients mostly come from developed countries such as Italy,
Acta stomatologica Croatica, 2008
12th International Symposium on Image and Signal Processing and Analysis (ISPA) , 2021
Sex assessment is an important step of the forensic process. Dental remains are often the only re... more Sex assessment is an important step of the forensic
process. Dental remains are often the only remains left to
examine due to their resistance to decay and external factors.
Contemporary forensic odontology literature describes multiple
methods for sex assessment from mandibular parameters, all of
which require manual measurements and expert training. This
study aims to explore the applicability of deep learning and image
analysis methods to automate this task, thus allowing for easier
reproducibility of assessments, reduction of the time experts lose
on repetitive tasks, and potentially better performance. We have
evaluated state-of-the-art deep learning models and components
on the largest dataset of individual adult tooth x-ray images,
consisting of 76293 samples. This study also explores the usage
of decayed or structurally altered teeth, with which contemporary
methods struggle. Two types of models are constructed, a family
of models specialized for specific tooth types, and a general model
that can assess the sex from any tooth type. We examine the
performance of those models per tooth type and age group, as
well as the impact of decayed and structurally altered teeth. The
specialized models achieve an overall accuracy of 72.40%, and
the general model reaches an overall accuracy of 72.68%
Journal of Forensic Odonto-Stomatology, 2021
The purpose of this study was to assess the correlation between the known chronological age and t... more The purpose of this study was to assess the correlation between the known chronological age and the dental cementum thickness (DCT) in male and female subjects in different age groups. Material and methods: The study sample consisted of 57 donor teeth of both sexes. Teeth were classified by donors' sex and divided into three age groups: 10-19, 30-39 and 60-69 years. Tooth roots were cut with transverse ground sections in the apical, middle, and cervical thirds. DCT measurements were made on photomicrographs of light microscope. The correlation between DCT and the chronological age was calculated using the Spearman correlation coefficient. Results: A positive correlation was found (r=0.47, p <0.001) between DCT and age of the donor. DCT decreased from apical to cervical ground section (median [IQR] apical section 216.72 [128.25-375.00] μm, middle section 158.44 [87.66-284.90] μm; cervical section 96.60 [70.05-165.59] µm). DCT variability was influenced by sex, number of tooth roots and the condition of the tooth crown. The influence differed depending on the location of the section, being most prominent cervically. Conclusion: The present study showed correlation of DCT with age, with significant influence of sex, number of tooth roots, condition of the tooth crown and location of the root section.
Molecules, 2021
Gender determination of the human remains can be very challenging, especially in the case of inco... more Gender determination of the human remains can be very challenging, especially in the
case of incomplete ones. Herein, we report a proof-of-concept experiment where the possibility of
gender recognition using Raman spectroscopy of teeth is investigated. Raman spectra were recorded
from male and female molars and premolars on two distinct sites, tooth apex and anatomical
neck. Recorded spectra were sorted into suitable datasets and initially analyzed with principal
component analysis, which showed a distinction between spectra of male and female teeth. Then,
reduced datasets with scores of the first 20 principal components were formed and two classification
algorithms, support vector machine and artificial neural networks, were applied to form classification
models for gender recognition. The obtained results showed that gender recognition with Raman
spectra of teeth is possible but strongly depends both on the tooth type and spectrum recording
site. The difference in classification accuracy between different tooth types and recording sites are
discussed in terms of the molecular structure difference caused by the influence of masticatory
loading or gender-dependent life events.
Expert Systems With Applications, 2022
Age estimation is a key component in forensic analysis, be it in legal proceedings or archeologic... more Age estimation is a key component in forensic analysis, be it in legal proceedings or archeological research. Current methods in forensic odontology are based on manual measurements of a wide array of morphometric parameters, typically from dental x-ray images, and occasionally from material remains. While those parameters follow a set progression during human development, thereby allowing current methods to precisely estimate the age of juveniles, estimation for adults and seniors proves to be more difficult. In this study, we explore the applicability of deep learning to the problem of chronological age estimation. We determine the best convolutional neural network model derived from state-of-the-art architectures, we determine the best performing model parameters using pretrained general-purpose vision model parameters as the starting point, and we perform ablation experiments to highlight which anatomical regions of the dental system contribute the most to the estimation. The proposed approach attains the lowest estimation error in literature for adult and senior subjects, which we verify on one of the largest datasets of panoramic dental x-ray images in literature. The dataset consists of 4035 panoramic dental x-ray images of male and female subjects with ages between 19 and 90 years. This study also evaluates the feasibility of the proposed model for age estimations of individual teeth, achieving an estimation error competitive with current methods while being fully automated. The estimation error is verified on our dataset of 76416 individual tooth images, which is the largest dataset to date in forensic odontology literature. Unlike current methods, dental alterations, decay, illnesses, or missing teeth do not pose a problem to the proposed model. With a median estimation error of 2.95 years for panoramic dental x-ray images and 4.68 years for individual teeth, and by deriving the model from state-of-the-art architectures, verifying those results on the largest dataset in forensic odontology literature and demonstrating the importance of different anatomical regions of the dental system for estimation, this study sets the baseline for future research of automated chronological age estimation in forensic odontology.
Journal of stomatology, 2022
Introduction: Dental tourism is the fastest growing form of medical tourism. In Europe, it repres... more Introduction: Dental tourism is the fastest growing form of medical tourism. In Europe, it represents 50% of activities in medical tourism. Many dentists in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia decide to engage in dental tourism. Objectives: The aim of this research was to collect and analyze data on dental students' perception of this phenomenon in these three countries. Material and methods: The study was conducted online in the form of an anonymous 20-question survey questionnaire. In total, 326 students participated in the survey. Data was processed using Microsoft Excel 2010 (MS Office, 2010) and Statistica (Tibco, v. 13.5.0.17, 2018) programs. Correlation coefficients were calculated by using Spearman rank test Results: The results showed that the majority of students had a positive opinion about dental tourism and that they perceived it as a profitable activity that positively affects the quality of dental work in their countries. Almost half of the students were not aware of problematic ethical aspects of dental tourism. Despite the current poor prospects due to the decline in dental tourism due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant proportion of students still have plans to engage in dental tourism in the future. Conclusions: The results showed that dental students perceived dental tourism as a positive phenomenon. Most of them said that dental tourism was a desirable career choice. Furthermore, it showed that dental students need better and more comprehensive education on ethical issues related to dental tourism.
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2022
steochondroma or osteocartilaginous exostosis is one of the most common benign tumors of the bone... more steochondroma or osteocartilaginous exostosis is one of the most common benign tumors of the bone. Causes
for the disease are yet unknown, but there are indications that they may be linked to abnormality in the growth
plate and possibly mutation in EXT1, EXT2 and EXT3 genes. Cases of reported osteochondromas range from
prehistoric to contemporary examples, are not limited geographically, and no evidence for sex predominance has
been reported.
Here we present a unique case of large pedunculated-type osteochondroma on the right fibula of an adult
female skeleton from the medieval site of Ilok-Krstbajer in eastern Croatia. In order to gain more insight into this
pathological change we used holistic approach consisting of a combination of techniques that have not been used
previously in the analysis of neoplasms from archaeological settings.
The cauliflower-shaped growth is 50 mm long in sagittal and 57.41 mm in transverse diameter with the tumor
exhibiting a bulbous, rough superior surface, and a flat, smoother inferior surface. The gross morphology of the
tumor together with radiological and histopathological features support the diagnosis of a proximal fibular
osteochondroma making it the first such case in an archaeological population. Based on archaeological context
and similar clinical cases it seems that the presented osteochondroma did not have major impact on the life-
quality of a woman affected by this pathology. The procedure used in this study is minimally invasive and
highly accurate, and as such sets new analytical criteria for studies of ancient bone neoplasms
International Journal of Legal Medicine, 2022
Aim This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy and precision of the Cameriere European formula, De... more Aim This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy and precision of the Cameriere European formula, Demirjian, Haavikko, and Willems methods for estimating dental age in a sample of children with permanent dentition in Croatia. Material and methods The study consisted of a sample of 1576 panoramic radiographs; a sub-sample of 84 OPGs, in which all first seven mandibular teeth were maturated, was excluded from the study. A final sample of 1492 (704 males and 788 females) aged 6.0 to 13.9 years was evaluated. Seven mandibular teeth from the left side of the mandible were analyzed, and dental age (DA) was determined by the Cameriere European formula, Demirjian method from 1976, Haavikko, and Willems methods and compared to chronological age (CA). In addition, the mean age difference (DA-CA), the mean absolute error (MAE) between dental and chronological age, the percentage of the individuals of dental age within ± 0.25 to ± 2 years of chronological age, and intra-observer and inter-observer statistics were calculated. Results The Cameriere European formula estimated the best dental age compared to the chronological age; the mean underestimation was − 0.4 years for both sexes, Haavikko underestimated by − 0.17 years, while Demirjian and Willems overestimated by 1.02 years and 0.48 years, respectively. The most significant difference showed the Demirjian method in 11-year-old and 12-year-old females. The MAE were 0.50 years, 1.01 years, 0.61 years, and 0.78 years in males and 0.51 years, 1.18 years, 0.61 years, and 0.70 years in females for the Cameriere European formula, Haavikko, Willems, and Demirjian methods, respectively. Furthermore, the Cameriere European formula showed the highest proportions of individuals with DA within ± 0.5 year difference of the CA, 61.5% in males and 59.6% in females. In addition, the Cameriere method showed the best intra-observer and inter-observer agreements. Conclusions Although the Demirjian method was used previously in Croatian children for legal, medical, and clinical purposes, the Cameriere European formula, Haavikko, and Willems were more accurate in the tested sample. According to our findings, the Cameriere European formula showed the best accuracy and precision in dental age assessment in Croatian children following Haavikko, and we recommend it as the method of the first choice in forensic and clinical analyses.
IEEE ACCESS, 2022
Determining the demographic characteristics of a person post-mortem is a fundamental task for for... more Determining the demographic characteristics of a person post-mortem is a fundamental task
for forensic experts, and the dental system is a crucial source of those information. Those characteristics,
namely age and sex, can reliably be determined. The mandible and individual teeth survive even the harshest
conditions, making them a prime target for forensic analysis. Current methods in forensic odontology rely on
time-consuming manual measurements and reference tables, many of which rely on the correct determination
of the tooth type. This study thoroughly explores the applicability of deep learning for sex assessment, age
estimation, and tooth type determination from x-ray images of individual teeth. A series of models that
use state-of-the-art feature extraction architectures and attention have been trained and evaluated. Their
hyperparameters have been explored and optimized using a combination of grid and random search, totaling
over a thousand experiments and 14076 hours of GPU compute time. Our dataset contains 86495 individual
tooth x-ray image samples, with a subset of 7630 images having additional information about tooth
alterations. The best-performing models are fine-tuned, the impact of tooth alterations is analyzed, and model
performance is compared to current methods in forensic odontology literature. We achieve an accuracy of
76.41% for sex assessment, a median absolute error of 4.94 years for age estimation, and an accuracy of
87.24% to 99.15% for tooth type determination. The constructed models are fully automated and fast, their
results are reproducible, and the performance is equal to or better than current state-of-the-art methods in
forensic odontology.
Homo, 2022
This paper presents the changes caused by macroabrasion of teeth on skeletal remains found in tom... more This paper presents the changes caused by macroabrasion of teeth on skeletal remains found in tomb No 4 in the west necropolis of the archeological site Kopila near Blato on the island of Korčula. The site archeologically dates back to the Late Iron Age, when the island was inhabited by the Illyrians. The aim of this study was to assess the dental age of the buried individuals at death and determine the type of their diet, which could give us a preliminary insight into the socioeconomic standard of the inhabitants of the settlement. The analyzed sample is part of the collection of excavated skeletal remains kept in the Vela Luka Cultural Center on the island of Korčula. 284 permanent teeth, 19 fragments of the maxilla and 20 fragments of the mandible were found in the tomb, which were classified into 32 individuals and by sex. Teeth were analyzed by metric and non-metric methods of determining dental status in order to assess the dental age at the time of death and the diet of the inhabitants. The dental age of individuals was determined by the Lovejoy method and the degree of tooth wear by the Smith-Knight method. The analysis of the stable isotope 14 C determined the exact time of death of the analyzed individuals. The tooth wear changes were very pronounced and present on 92.9% of teeth, equally on incisors and molars (p = 0.236). There is no significant gender difference (p > 0.05 for all teeth and jaw parts). There was no difference in the degree of tooth wear of the teeth of the mandible and maxilla (t =-0.266, p = 0.791), nor in the degree of tooth wear of the teeth of the maxilla right and left (t =-0.392, p = 0.702) or in the degree of tooth wear of the teeth of the mandible right and left (t =-0.889, p = 0.390). The average age of the analyzed population sample was 35.6 (±3.1) years. They were buried between 360-40 BC. Tooth wear changes observed on the analyzed teeth indicate a diet rich in hard, weakly cariogenic food with particles that were probably of inorganic origin, which caused an increased wear of tooth structures. The population was sedentary, agricultural type and the life expectancy was normal for the Late Iron Age. Besides, their socioeconomic status was good. The age at the time of their death was between 30 and 40 years. Further studies should include more accurate and standardized methods for assessing the condition.
Acta stomatologica Croatica, 2023
The aim of the study was to evaluate self-reported MADE during the COVID-19 pandemic in dental he... more The aim of the study was to evaluate self-reported MADE during the COVID-19 pandemic in dental healthcare practitioners and identify their possible risk factors. Material and Methods: An anonymous questionnaire was sent to doctors of dental medicine in the time period from February 2022 to August 2022. The online questionnaire included demographic characteristics and clinical characteristics: presence and deterioration of DED symptoms while wearing the face mask, personal protective face equipment, use of contact lenses, history of eye surgery, current use of medications, number of hours wearing face mask, and evaluation of subjective DED symptoms using modified Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI). Results: A total of 405 participants were included in the study and an overall prevalence of MADE was 29.1% (95% CI: 24.7-33.6). The participants who used masks more than 6 hours per day during the whole day reported a higher OSDI score (12.5 (IQR = 2.6-29.2)) compared to the participants who used masks less than 6 hours/day (6.25 (IQR = 0-22.92); Mann-Whitney U Test p = 0.066). Multivariable logistic regression revealed the following possible risk factors for self-reported MADE: age (older than 61 years) OR: 3.522 (95% CI 1.448-8.563); p=0.05, and wearing the face mask more than 6 h at work OR: 1.779 (95% CI 1.017-3.113); p=0.044. Conclusion: The prevalence of self-reported MADE among dental healthcare practitioners appears to be significant. The use of a face mask for a prolonged duration increases OSDI scores.
Acta stomatologica Croatica, 2023
Introduction: Artificial intelligence has been applied in various fields throughout history, but ... more Introduction: Artificial intelligence has been applied in various fields throughout history, but its integration into daily life is more recent. The first applications of AI were primarily in academia and government research institutions, but as technology has advanced, AI has also been applied in industry, commerce, medicine and dentistry. Objective: Considering that the possibilities of applying artificial intelligence are developing rapidly and that this field is one of the areas with the greatest increase in the number of newly published articles, the aim of this paper was to provide an overview of the literature and to give an insight into the possibilities of applying artificial intelligence in medicine and dentistry. In addition, the aim was to discuss its advantages and disadvantages. Conclusion: The possibilities of applying artificial intelligence to medicine and dentistry are just being discovered. Artificial intelligence will greatly contribute to developments in medicine and dentistry, as it is a tool that enables development and progress, especially in terms of personalized healthcare that will lead to much better treatment outcomes.
Bulletin of the International Association for Paleodontology, 2023
This paper discusses the importance of adopting and applying new technologies in scientific field... more This paper discusses the importance of adopting and applying new technologies in scientific fields to increase the rate of progress. It emphasises the need for networking and multidisciplinary collaboration to apply technologies developed for other purposes to solve scientific or professional issues. The paper reviews modern technologies used in archaeology and bioarchaeology, including ground penetrating radar, LiDAR, drones, 3D printing, remote sensing, GIS, and portable X-ray fluorescence. It also presents modern technologies in bioarchaeology such as DNA analysis, stable isotope analysis, radiocarbon dating, microscopic analysis, CT and MRI, and proteomics. The paper introduces palaeoradiology, a branch of radiology that uses imaging technologies to examine bioarchaeological or even archaeological material, and discusses its importance in gaining knowledge about the health, lifestyle, and causes of death of past populations.
Journal of Forensic Odonto-Stomatology, 2023
This review article aims to highlight the current possibilities for applying Artificial Intellige... more This review article aims to highlight the current possibilities for applying Artificial Intelligence in modern forensic medicine and forensic dentistry and present the advantages and disadvantages of its use. For this purpose, the relevant academic literature was searched using PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus. The application of Artificial Intelligence in forensic medicine and forensic dentistry is still in its early stages. However, the possibilities are great, and the future will show what is applicable in daily practice. Artificial Intelligence will improve the accuracy and efficiency of work in forensic medicine and forensic dentistry; it can automate some tasks; and enhance the quality of evidence. Disadvantages of the application of Artificial Intelligence may be related to discrimination, transparency, accountability, privacy, security, ethics and others. Artificial Intelligence systems should be used as a support tool, not as a replacement for forensic experts.
Micron, 2023
This paper presents a detailed analysis to directly compare the morphology and chemistry of human... more This paper presents a detailed analysis to directly compare the morphology and chemistry of human tooth layers using advanced scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques together with supporting data from energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) measurements. The aim of this study was to visualise and evaluate the structural and microanalytical differences of the mineralised hard tissues of human teeth. The extracted sound teeth without any pathologies were divided into the following groups: incisors, canines, premolars, and molars. Tooth samples were broken vertically to preserve the primary structures and to visualise individual tooth tissues. Specimens were also used to find variations in the elemental composition of tissues for different tooth groups. The average thickness of the enamel in the tooth groups studied was 1.1 mm and the average width of the enamel prisms was 4.2 µm, with the highest values observed for molars. The analysis of the chemical composition of the enamel showed that Ca and P were among the predominant elements. The average dentine thickness was 1.87 mm, with the highest values determined for molars, and the lowest for canines. The width of the dentinal tubules was less than 2 µm, for molars being significantly smaller. The analysis of the chemical composition of the dentine showed the highest O content of the all tooth tissues analyzed, while a lower P and Ca content was observed compared to the enamel. The cementum thickness averaged 0.14 mm, with the highest values observed for molars and the lowest for incisors. The analysis of the chemical composition of the cementum showed the lowest average O and P content, and the highest average C and N content, compared to the enamel and the dentine. Increasingly accurate imaging and analysis of dental hard tissue structures provides the opportunity for multifactorial evaluation in terms of their clinical application.
Tourism, 2023
Dental tourism is based on providing dental services outside the home country at more favourable ... more Dental tourism is based on providing dental services outside the home country at more favourable prices but with added value in tourist offers and arrangements. Croatia has become a destination for affordable and at the same time quality dental tourism due to low prices, high quality, and natural beauties. In addition to dental services, most clinics offer transportation and accommodation. Dental tourists want to combine dental services with vacation, which makes Croatia a desirable destination precisely because of the natural beauty and abundance of rich content. For this reason, many Croatian dentists have recognized dental tourism as an additional source of income or as their primary business orientation. Although clinics operating within dental tourism are located throughout Croatia, the most significant number is in Zagreb, Rijeka, and Split. Patients mostly come from developed countries such as Italy,
Acta stomatologica Croatica, 2008
![Research paper thumbnail of Occupational diseases and diseases related to work in dental medicine [text in Croatian]](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/42367720/thumbnails/1.jpg)
](Dental professionals from inside Health issues in dental medicine Occupational diseases and dis... more Dental professionals from inside
Health issues in dental medicine
Occupational diseases and diseases related to work – restaurative dentistry and endodontics
Occupational diseases and diseases related to work – paediatric and preventive dentistry
Occupational diseases and diseases related to work – oral surgery
Occupational diseases and diseases related to work – periodontology
Occupational diseases and diseases related to work – prosthodontics
Occupational diseases and diseases related to work – oral medicine
Occupational diseases and diseases related to work – orthodontics
Musculoskeletal disorders in dental professionals
Spine disorders in dental professionals
Physical medicine and rehabilitation and musculoskeletal disorders in dental professionals
Neurology and occupational diseases and diseases related to work in dental professionals
Exposure to blood borne infections in dental professionals
Dental profession and virus hepatitis B and C
Dental profession and arterial hypertension and varicose veins
Dental profession and eye diseases
Dental profession and ear, nose and throat diseases
Dental profession and skin diseases
Dental profession and oncological diseases
Dental profession and immunological diseases
Dental profession and mental disorders
Dental profession and abuse of drugs
Dental profession, reproductive health and pregnancy
Occupational injuries in dental medicine
Radiation hazards in dental office and protection
Dental microscopes and ergonomics
Health of dental professionals and future
![Research paper thumbnail of Essentials of dental medicine [text in Croatian]](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/42366990/thumbnails/1.jpg)
](DENTAL MEDICINE AS A PART OF BIOMEDICINE Stomatology and dental medicine Anatomy and physiol... more DENTAL MEDICINE AS A PART OF BIOMEDICINE
Stomatology and dental medicine
Anatomy and physiology of oral cavity
Embryology of oral cavity
Tooth development
Histology of oral tissues
HISTORY OF DENTISTRY
Development of dentistry in world and Croatia
DENTAL DISCIPLINES
Dental anthropology and morphology of teeth
Preventive dentistry
Paediatric dentistry
Orthodontics
Periodontology
Cariology
Restorative dentistry
Endodontics
Oral medicine
Oral surgery
Dental implantology
Prosthodontics
Gnathology
Family dentistry
Geriatric dentistry
Sports dentistry
Forensic dentistry
Odontobiography
DENTAL EDUCATION
School of Dental Medicine University of Zagreb
Dental medicine studies at Medical schools in Croatia
Teaching and non-teaching staff
How to learn at dental medicine study?
Employment opportunities after graduation
Dental specialities
Lifelong education, doctoral (PhD) study and university specialist study
PROFESSIONAL GUIDELINES OF MODERN DENTISTRY
Dental ethics and deontology
Laws and regulations in dental medicine
Organization of dental health care
Dental professional organizations
Science and publishing in dental medicine
Dental terminology and oral health literacy
Multiculturalism and dental profession
Dental staff and recognizing of abuse and neglect
Occupational diseases and diseases related to work in dental medicine
Management in dentistry
Complaints of patients and risk management in dentistry
CLINICAL DENTAL WORK
Dental staff
Personal protection in dental medicine
Dental workplace
Dental fear
Dental examination and anamnesis
Dental records
Disinfection and sterilisation
Dental radiology
Oral pain
Pain control and local anaesthesia in dental medicine
Dental care of medically complex patients
Future of dental medicine