FORENSIC ODONTOLOGY

Dr. Rishabh Kumar Singh, Dr. Kamal Singla*, Dr. Yashoda Rani

ABSTRACT

Forensic dentistry is the application of dental knowledge to those criminal and civil laws that are enforced by police agencies in a criminal justice system. Forensic dentists are involved in assisting investigative agencies to identify recovered human remains in addition to the identification of whole or fragmented bodies; forensic dentists may also be asked to assist in determining age, race, occupation, previous dental history and socioeconomic status of unidentified human beings. Identification is done by the comparison of ante-mortem and post-mortem dental records and using the unique features visible on dental radiographs. Forensic dentistry is the proper handling, examination and evaluation of dental evidence, which can be presented in the interest of justice. The evidence that may be derived from teeth is the age and identification of the person to whom the teeth belongs. This is done by using dental records including ante-mortem radiographs and post-mortem photographs and DNA. The other type of evidence is that of bite marks, left on either the victim (by the attacker), the perpetrator (from the victim of an attack), or on an object found at the crime scene. Bite marks are often found on children who are abused.

Keywords: Bite marks, Dentition, Identification.