 To
understand the meaning and scope of
forensic odontology.
 To understand how forensic odontology
is used for dental identification.
 Definition
 Scope
 Dental
identification
 Age estimation
“The area of dentistry concerned with the correct
management, examination, evaluation and
presentation of dental evidence in criminal or
civil legal proceedings in the interest of
justice”
Forensic dentistry plays a major role in
identification, in man made or natural
disasters –events that result in multiple
deaths that may not be identifiable through
conventional methods such as finger
prints.
Identifying unknown human remains
through dental records and assisting at
location of mass disaster.

Determining the gender of an unidentified
individual.

Age estimation of both the living and dead.


Recognition and analysis of bite marks found on
victims of attack and other substances such as
food stuffs.
Presenting evidence in court as an expert
witness.
 Human
dentition is never same in any two
individuals.
 The
morphology and arrangement of teeth
vary from person to person.
 Teeth
are
relatively
resistant
environmental insults after death.
 Moreover
to
most materials used by dentists
for restoring teeth are also resistant to post
mortem (after death) destruction.



Traditional methods - Visually recognizing body,
Personal property such as clothing ,jewellery etc.
Visually identifying what is burnt or decomposed
can be a very traumatic experience for relatives and
friends ,the better option for identification is forensic
expert to analyze physical features present in the
body.
Therefore the use of dental evidence by comparing
antemortem (before death) and postmortem (after
death) data is the method of choice in establishing
the
identity
of
badly
burnt
,traumatized,
decomposed and skeletonised remains.
 1.
Positive identification- There is sufficient
similarity among the comparable items in
the antemortem and postmortem data and
no major differences are observed.
 2.Possible
identificationThere
are
similarities among the comparable items in
the antemortem and postmortem data,
however enough information may be
missing from either source to prevent the
establishment of a positive identification.
 3.Insufficient
identification
evidence- There is
insufficient
supportive evidence
available to compare
and arrive at a
conclusion based on
scientific principles.
 Teeth
are an excellent source of DNA
since they can resist extreme conditions
such as extreme temperatures.
 PCR
(Polymerase Chain Reaction) allows
amplification of even highly degraded
DNA.
 PULPAL
TISSUE IS THE BEST SOURCE OF
DENTAL DNA.
 Two types of DNA
 1)genomic or nuclear DNA
 2)mitochondrial DNA (mt DNA)
 Each
cell has a copy of mt DNA ,also
exclusively inherited from mother; no
contribution from father .
 Thus identical mt DNA is observed in
siblings (brothers and sisters) , their mother
and many maternal relatives (e.g. mother’s
brothers and sisters).
 Any
questions??
 Thank
you