Retrospective investigation of dental records used in forensic identification cases

The purpose of this paper was to investigate the standard of dental record keeping from a sample of forensic records retrieved from the Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, University of Pretoria. Forty of the most recent cases in which ante-mortem information was required, were analysed. From the investigation it was clear that dentists did not comply with the requirements pertaining to dental charting and record keeping. A recommended code of abbreviations is proposed for use by dentists. It is concluded that until such time as charting is reinstituted as a legal requirement by the Health Professional Council of South Africa, dentists would not routinely chart their patients' dental status.