Record Translation
Definition
The process of converting AM records made in one charting system (e.g., Palmer notation) into the notation system used by the PM examiner, to allow direct comparison. A documented step that should be auditable.
- Context
- Antemortem dental record comparison
- Example source system
- Palmer notation
- Purpose
- Enable direct AM to PM comparison
- Requirement
- Auditable documented step
Common questions
Why can't an examiner compare AM and PM dental records directly when they use different notation systems?+
Different charting systems number and label teeth differently, so comparing records without converting them to a common notation risks misreading which tooth a finding refers to, which could produce a false match or a false exclusion.
Why does record translation need to be documented and auditable rather than done informally?+
Because a translation error could change the identification outcome, DVI protocols require the conversion to be traceable so another examiner or a court can verify that the comparison correctly mapped teeth between the two notation systems.
Related terms
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