An analysis of the value of forensic odontology in ten mass disasters

The results of dental identification in ten mass disasters, in which British forensic odontologists undertook the dental identification procedures, are reported. These ten disasters indicate the difficulties associated with this method and draw attention to the need for national dental associations to deal with the problem of inadequate dental records and unmarked dentures. It is suggested that, through the FDI World Dental Federation, each member country should appoint dentists, responsible for providing advice and assistance, to forensic odontologists in other countries, when nationals of the country are victims of an international disaster.