Balachander N, Aravindha Babu N, Jimson S, Priyadharsini C, Masthan KMK. Evolution of forensic odontology: an overview. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2015; 7:S176-S180
Bruce-Chwatt RM. A brief history of forensic odontology since 1775. J Forensic Leg Med. 2010; 17:127-130
Cotton Mills and Factories Act. 1819;
Factory Act of 1844. 1844;
Taylor D. The law and the dentist. Br Dent J. 1963; 114:389-392
Pretty IA, Sweet D. A look at forensic dentistry – Part 1: The role of teeth in the determination of human identity. Br Dent J. 2001; 190:359-366
Avon SL. Forensic odontology: the roles and responsibilities of the dentist. J Can Dent Assoc. 2004; 70:453-458
Waleed P, Baba F, Alsulami S, Tarakji B. Importance of dental records in forensic dental identification. Acta Inform Med. 2015; 23:49-52
Shanbhag VKL. Significance of dental records in personal identification in forensic sciences. J Forensic Sci Med. 2016; 2:39-43
Chiam S. A note on digital dental radiography in forensic odontology. J Forensic Dent Sci. 2014; 6:197-201
Sholl SA, Moody GH. Evaluation of dental radiographic identification: an experimental study. Forensic Sci Int. 2001; 115:165-169
Wenzel A, Richards A, Heidmann J. Matching simulated antemortem and postmortem dental radiographs from human skulls by dental students and experts: testing skills for pattern recognition. J Forensic Odontostomatol. 2010; 28:5-12
Almeida MA, Phillips C, Kula K, Tulloch C. Stability of the palatal rugae as landmarks for analysis of dental casts. Angle Orthod. 1995; 65:43-48
De Angelis D, Cattaneo C, Grandi M. Dental superimposition: a pilot study for standardising the method. Int J Legal Med. 2007; 121:501-506
Silva RF, Pereira SD, Prado FB, Daruge E, Daruge E. Forensic odontology identification using smile photograph analysis – case reports. J Forensic Odontostomatol. 2008; 26:12-17
Moody GH, Busuttil A, Hill PG. A common origin for dental porcelain derived from an accused's hand and the decreased victim of an assault. Int J Legal Med. 1992; 105:179-183
Gupta B, Datta S, Datta P. Application of molecular biology in forensic dentistry. Ind J Forensic Odontol. 2012; 5
Krishan K, Kanchan T, Garg AK. Dental evidence in forensic identification – an overview, methodology and present status. Open Dent J. 2015; 9:250-256
Singh N, Grover N, Puri N, Singh S, Arora S. Age estimation from physiological changes of teeth: a reliable age marker?. J Forensic Dent Sci. 2014; 6:113-121
Cole TJ. The evidential value of developmental age imaging for assessing age of majority. Ann Hum Biol. 2015; 42:379-388
AlQahtani SJ, Liversidge HM, Hector MP. Atlas of tooth development and eruption. Am J Phys Anthrop. 2010; 142:481-490
Alkass K, Buchholz BA, Ohtani S, Yamamoto T, Druid H, Spalding KL. Age estimation in forensic sciences: application of combined aspartic acid racemization and radiocarbon analysis. Mol Cell Proteomics. 2010; 9:1022-1030
Silva RHA, Musse JdeO, Melani RFH, Oliveira RN. Human bite mark identification and DNA technology in forensic dentistry. Braz J Oral Sci. 2006; 5:1193-1197
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine. Strengthening forensic science in the United States: a path forward. 2009. https://www.nap.edu/read/12589
Forensic dentistry (odontology) deals with the examination, handling and presentation of dental evidence for the legal system. In the UK this work mainly involves criminal cases but in many other countries its remit also extends to civil litigation. There are four main aspects to forensic dentistry: single body identification, Disaster Victim Identification (DVI), age estimation and bite mark identification and analysis. This article provides a brief introduction to the topics and discusses potential future developments that aim to reduce the subjectivity in the analysis process and simplify presentation of evidence to non-dental parties.
CPD/Clinical Relevance: This article highlights ways that dental practitioners can assist legal investigations and, in particular, forensic dentists.
Article
Forensic dentistry is the application of dental knowledge in the service of criminal and civil laws.1 Following the publication of a short article in 1897 describing the identification of victims of a fire in Paris by Dr Oscar Amoedo, who is considered to be ‘the father of the forensic odontology’,1,2 this branch of dentistry started to develop. The importance of age estimation was highlighted in the industrial revolution with the Factories Acts of 18193 and 1844,4 which determined that the minimum age to work was 9 years and 8 years, respectively, with age verified by a surgeon. The individuality of bite marks has been known for many centuries. William the Conqueror had the habit of securing his mail with sealing wax imprinted with his bite to allow verification of authenticity of his documents: his anterior teeth were malaligned. In the UK, the 1948 Gorringe case is often considered to be the start of modern day bite mark analysis.5
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Dental Update and reading some of our resources. To read more, please register today. You’ll enjoy the following great benefits:
