Identification by comparative dental analysis plays an important role similar to fingerprints and DNA analysis. Maintenance of dental records is the duty of a dentist and is an essential component, serving as an information source for the dentists and the patients, in medico-legal, administrative, and for forensic purposes. This article provides an overview of the recent trends in conventional forensic methods and also provides an insight into the recent concepts used in this field.įorensic dental identification most of the times are dependent on the availability, adequacy, and accuracy of antemortem dental records. In addition, the recent concepts such as facial reconstruction, denture identification, comparison microscopes, and tongue prints have been introduced in the field of forensic odontology. Evolving trends have been observed in the conventional methods used such as dental record maintenance, dental imaging techniques, bite-mark analysis, DNA analysis using oral tissues, cheiloscopy, and rugoscopy. Dental tissues are often used to determine age, sex, and ethnicity of the person who can either be a victim or a suspect.ĭata collection methods and supplementary technologies used in forensic dental identification have undergone significant transformation. Identification by dental means gains more importance because the dental tissues are often preserved even if the deceased person is skeletonized, decomposed, burnt or dismembered. The common methods used for individual identification are using visual identification, personal information (such as height, build, age, presence or absence of hair), medical information (such as scars, tattoos, birthmarks, implants, amputations, prosthesis), footprint records from a chiropodist/podiatrist, clothing, personal effects, fingerprints, DNA profiling and dental identification. (3) Identification, examination, and evaluation of bite marks which occur with some frequency in sexual assaults, child abuse cases, and in personal defense situations. (2) The identification of individuals, especially casualties in criminal investigations and/or mass disasters. The techniques used in forensic odontology has evolved through the evolution of humankind.įorensic odontology has three major areas of utilization as follows: (1) diagnostic and therapeutic examination and evaluation of injuries to jaws, teeth, and oral soft tissues. In courts, the dental evidence has been used for the past many years. The history of forensic odontology goes long back. Forensic dental identification plays a primary role in the identification of remains when postmortem changes, traumatic tissue injury, or lack of fingerprint record invalidate the use of visual or fingerprint method. Therefore, dentition of a person is useful for individual identification and comparison, if records exist for the purpose. This uniqueness is also due to variety of treatments given by the dentist. The dental patterns are unique for every individual. They are often resistant to decomposition even in major accidents, crime, burial, or other severe exposure to the elements. Teeth are the most hardest and robust tissues of the human body.
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