Forensic dentistry is a field of dentistry that focuses on the use of teeth and oral structures for identification in a legal context. It has become increasingly important over the years, as teeth and dental restorations are often the only means of identification. Forensic dentistry has been used to identify people in mass disasters, crime investigations, ethnic studies, and to identify decomposed and disfigured bodies. The various methods used in forensic dentistry include dental fingerprints, x-rays, photographic studies, rugoscopy, cheiloscopy, and molecular methods.
These research methods are reliable but have certain deficiencies that need to be addressed in order to make them more significant and relevant. This article provides an overview of the various experimental studies to aid in identification processes, and analyzes their feasibility and limitations in daily practice. Forensic dentistry is used in both criminal and civil law. Forensic dentists help investigative agencies identify human remains, especially when identifying information is scarce or non-existent. They can also be asked to help determine the age, race, occupation, previous dental history, and socioeconomic status of unidentified human beings.
Forensic dentistry is the field of dentistry in which dental knowledge is applied to issues of law. The disciplines of the forensic dentistry profession have expanded beyond dental identifications to include the recognition and reporting of child and elder abuse, age assessment, and the analysis of bite marks. Recent advances in the field of forensic dentistry include the use of computed tomography (CT) images for the identification and examination of pathology, as well as superpositioning 3D dental surfaces before and after death for identification. This overview is an attempt to describe the importance of various types of dental tests, techniques and methods used in forensic dentistry for identification purposes. Forensic dentistry provides knowledge of orofacial structures, their variation between people of different ancestors and the implications of dental treatment in the identification process. Forensic dentists are highly trained professionals who use a variety of tests to analyze dental evidence.
These tests can be divided into two main categories: physical tests and chemical tests. Physical tests involve examining teeth or other oral structures for signs of trauma or disease. Chemical tests involve analyzing saliva or other bodily fluids for traces of drugs or other substances. Physical tests are often used to identify individuals by comparing their teeth or other oral structures with those found at a crime scene or on a victim's body. These tests can also be used to determine whether a person has been exposed to certain drugs or toxins.
Examples of physical tests include radiographs (x-rays), dental casts (molds), bite mark analysis, and odontology (the study of teeth).Chemical tests are used to detect traces of drugs or other substances in saliva or other bodily fluids. These tests can be used to determine whether a person has been exposed to certain drugs or toxins. Examples of chemical tests include chromatography (the separation of substances by their chemical properties), spectroscopy (the study of light absorption), and immunoassays (tests that measure the presence or absence of specific molecules).Forensic dentists use these tests to analyze dental evidence in court cases. By examining teeth or other oral structures for signs of trauma or disease, they can help determine whether a person was involved in a crime or was exposed to certain drugs or toxins.
By analyzing saliva or other bodily fluids for traces of drugs or other substances, they can help determine whether a person was under the influence at the time of an incident. Forensic dentists are highly trained professionals who use a variety of tests to analyze dental evidence. By analyzing saliva or other bodily fluids for traces of drugs or other substances, they can help determine whether a person was under the influence at the time of an incident. Forensic dentists play an important role in criminal investigations by providing valuable evidence that can be used in court cases. They use physical and chemical tests to analyze dental evidence and provide insight into criminal cases that would otherwise remain unsolved.
