Forensic dentistry in a terrorist world.

Area of Science:

• Forensic dentistry
• Disaster medicine
• Public health

Background:

• Body identification by dental means has not substantially changed since major past events like 9/11.
• Bioterrorism represents a novel threat to dental personnel in disaster scenarios.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review general forensic dentistry disaster response protocols.
• To address the specific impacts of bioterrorism on dental responders.
• To examine the potential triage function of dental offices during disasters.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of forensic dentistry disaster response.
• Analysis of bioterrorism threats to healthcare personnel.
• Exploration of disaster triage principles in a dental context.

Main Results:

• Established dental identification methods are robust but require adaptation for new threats.
• Bioterrorism necessitates enhanced safety measures and protocols for dental responders.
• Dental offices could serve a critical role in initial patient triage during mass casualty events.

Conclusions:

• Forensic dentistry practices are largely unchanged, but the context of bioterrorism introduces new challenges.
• Dental personnel require updated training and protective measures to manage bioterrorism events.
• The integration of dental offices into disaster response plans, particularly for triage, is recommended.