Forensic odontology is the branch of forensic science that uses dental records and oral structures to help identify individuals, especially when bodies are decomposed, burned, or unrecognizable. Teeth are highly durable and often survive conditions that destroy other tissues, making dental evidence a reliable tool in forensic identification.
The discipline originated in the late 18th century, with one of the earliest recorded uses during the American Revolutionary War. Over time, forensic odontology evolved alongside dentistry, incorporating radiographs, dental charts, and digital records. Today, it is an established component of disaster victim identification and criminal investigations worldwide.
Dental records help estimate an individual’s age by assessing tooth eruption patterns in children and wear, secondary dentin formation, and root transparency in adults. Advanced methods also analyze pulp size and changes visible on dental radiographs. Sex determination can be assisted by examining tooth size, crown dimensions, and, in some cases, DNA extracted from the dental pulp. While dentistry alone cannot conclusively determine sex, it provides valuable supportive evidence.
Certain dental traits can offer clues about ethnicity or ancestry. Variations such as shovel-shaped incisors, cusp patterns, and tooth morphology are more common in specific populations. These features help narrow down identification when combined with other forensic findings.
In recent years, forensic dentistry has played a key role in mass disaster identification, including plane crashes, natural disasters, and fires, where dental records were matched with antemortem data to confirm identities. It has also contributed to criminal cases by assisting in victim identification and bite mark analysis, though the latter is now used with greater caution.
Overall, dental records remain a vital, cost-effective, and reliable resource in forensic identification, especially when other methods are limited or unavailable.
MBH/AB