Forensic Odontology Essay

ABSTRACT: Application of dental expertise to legal issues is Forensic odontology. It explores the field of human identification by various ways most commonly, by the comparison of dental records of a missing person with a deceased individual. Forensic dental identification principally relies up on the availability of ante-mortem records, which are needed to be compared with post-mortem records. Therefore, a thorough knowledge of dental records is essential for the practicing dentist, as it not only has a forensic application, but also helps in the identification of suspects in criminal investigation, medico-legal cases & is useful for person identification either in a single case or in cases of mass disasters. Comprehensive and accurate records
Forensic Odontology / dentistry, defined by Keiser-Neilson in 1970 as the "branch of forensic medicine which in the interest of justice deals with the proper handling and examination of dental evidence and with the proper evaluation and presentation of the dental findings [1]. It relates dental evidence to investigation.

Human identification is a mainstay of civilization, and the identification of unknown individuals always has been of paramount importance to society. The positive identification of human remains requires the matching of physical characteristics from the deceased with records of those phys characteristics made before death.

Forensic odontology has played a key role in identification of persons in mass disasters (e.g. aviation, accidents, earthquakes, Tsunamis and terrorist attacks), in crime investigation, child/elder/spouse abuse, bite mark analysis, criminal/natural deaths and injuries, bioterriorism, as well as in decomposed and charred bodies.

The concept of using dental evidence in forensic investigation has kindled so much interest in the recent past that forensic odontology is even suggested as the single positive identification method to solve certain forensic cases., The different methods employed in forensic dentistry include bite mark analysis, tooth prints, rugoscopy, cheiloscopy, dental DNA analysis, radiographs, photographic study etc
This is because the teeth are the hardest substances in the human body and may be the only method available to identify the decedent. Teeth can survive most of the insults and consequences encountered at death and during decomposition. In cases in which the body is exposed to tremendous forces temperatures, such as mishap occured at World Trade Center or aircraft accidents, the teeth are found to survive well enough for useful forensic comparison.

Dental materials and restorations have provided clues to assist identification. Teeth and dental restorations are resistant to destruction making it useful in identification. Many features of the teeth and numerous characteristics of dental treatment can be unique that permits accurate and legally acceptable identification of the remains

Dental remains are highly valuable for post mortem identification as they are usually the last to get destroyed after death thus extremely helpful in cases of mass disasters and decomposed unidentified bodies. Dental records may also help in the identification of suspects in criminal investigations and in medico legal cases [3]. Tedious though this can be, it is often the best and sometimes the only way. Tooth arrangement, fillings and other dental work are unique to the individual, or nearly so, and the teeth are highly resistant to fire and decay that allows dental records for positive