Abstract:

Forensic dentistry, or forensic odontology, is an interdisciplinary scientific field that applies dental knowledge to legal and judicial investigations. It plays a crucial role in identifying human remains, analysing dental and maxillofacial trauma, examining bite marks, and constructing biological profiles in criminal, civil, and mass-disaster contexts. Teeth and associated oral structures are highly durable and unique, making them reliable sources of evidence even under extreme conditions such as fire, prolonged decomposition, or mechanical stress. Moreover, dental tissues preserve DNA, especially mitochondrial DNA, when other biological materials are degraded.
Comparative dental identification, which involves the analysis of ante-mortem and post-mortem records, radiographs, and dental characteristics, remains the most reliable method for establishing identity. In mass disasters, forensic dental experts form part of multidisciplinary teams, complementing DNA analysis to ensure rapid and accurate identification. Bite mark analysis, although historically important, is increasingly scrutinized due to concerns about reproducibility and evidentiary validity, emphasizing the need for standardized, evidence-based approaches.
Age estimation in forensic dentistry employs morphological, histological, and biochemical methods, including tooth development, secondary dentin formation, root transparency, cementum annulation, and lead accumulation in dental tissues. Advances in digital technologies, enhance accuracy and reproducibility but require careful population-specific validation. Sex determination and population affiliation can also be inferred from dental and mandibular measurements, especially when combined with other anthropological data.
Ethical standards demand objectivity, methodological rigor, and transparency regarding limitations. As forensic odontology continues to integrate traditional and digital methods, it provides a scientifically robust and legally reliable framework for human identification, trauma assessment, and judicial investigations, ensuring its enduring importance in both forensic and humanitarian contexts.
Keywords: Forensic dental medicine, Identification of individuals, Age determination, Cementum annulation.