Identification by dental evidence: basics and beyond

The use of dental information to identify unknown persons is an essential part of the response to a mass fatality incident. Moreover, the likelihood of future disasters due to terrorism, earthquakes and other causes requires the dental profession to prepare for an expanded role that would include bioterrorism response and emergency medical care. However, the profession's role in identification procedures will continue to be a major responsibility because it will still be a vitally important function, and it is within our area of expertise. This paper will provide a working understanding of the fundamentals of identification by dental evidence. It will also touch on some recent developments in this area.