Evolution of forensic odontology: An overview

Area of Science:

• Forensic Odontology
• Dental Forensics
• Legal Medicine

Background:

• Forensic odontology involves dentists in legal and criminal investigations.
• It focuses on the handling, examination, and evaluation of dental evidence for identification.
• Dental evidence is crucial for identifying victims and deceased individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize the historical evolution of forensic odontology.
• To highlight its application in modern criminal cases, including victim identification.
• To underscore the importance of dental evidence in legal proceedings.

Main Methods:

• Review of historical milestones in forensic odontology.
• Analysis of case studies demonstrating victim identification through dental records.
• Examination of dental structures, prosthetics, and restorations for identification.

Main Results:

• Forensic odontology has a long history, tracing back to ancient times.
• Modern applications include identifying victims in complex criminal cases, such as gang rapes.
• Dental evidence provides reliable means for identifying individuals when other methods fail.

Conclusions:

• Forensic odontology is an essential discipline in legal and criminal investigations.
• The field has evolved from historical practices to sophisticated modern techniques.
• Accurate identification through dental evidence is vital for justice.