Forensic odontology in disaster victim identification

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Anthropology

Background:

• Mass fatality identification (MFI) methods have evolved significantly over time.
• The late 20th century saw dental identification as the primary method for MFI.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the historical progression of MFI techniques.
• To compare the efficacy of dental identification versus DNA analysis in MFI.

Main Methods:

• Historical perspective review of MFI methods.
• Statistical analysis of primary identification modalities.
• Comparative analysis of dental and DNA identification accuracy.

Main Results:

• Dental identification was the gold standard in the early modern period (1970s-1990s).
• DNA analysis emerged as the superior method in the late modern period, overcoming initial limitations.
• DNA's accuracy validated the reliability of dental identification, highlighting the importance of multiple identification methods.

Conclusions:

• Despite DNA's advancements, dental identification remains a major contributor to disaster victim identification (DVI).
• Advanced imaging is enhancing dental identification capabilities.
• A multidisciplinary approach, integrating methods like comparative dental identification, is essential for future MFI.