Dental Research and Oral Health

Forensic Odontology

Forensic odontology is proper handling, examination, and evaluation of dental evidence, which will be presented in the interest of justice. The evidence that may be derived from the teeth, the age (in children) and identification of the person to whom the teeth may belong. Forensic odontology is the application of dental evidence to both criminal and civil law. This can include identifying sexual abuse; personal identification of the deceased, especially in cases of mass disaster or when facial recognition is inconclusive; or in determining ages of unidentified victims. Forensic odontology is one of the rapidly developing branches of forensic medicine and forensic science. It has immense importance in examining dental evidence and in the identification of victims of mass disaster, abuse or organized crimes. Which can be obtained by working under a senior forensic odontologist. A forensic dentist can utilize ameloglyphics, or enamel rod patterns. Like fingerprints, these are unique to each individual. Unlike fingerprints, they are highly resistant, and cannot be intentionally burned or cut to change the pattern. Similar to collecting fingerprints, investigators take enamel rod “prints.”