Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Human identification is one of the most challenging subjects that man has been confronted with. The role of forensic odontology has increased in contributing in this regard as very often teeth and dental restoration are the only means of identification. Dental identification of humans occurs for a number of different reasons and situations like mass disasters (aviation, earthquakes, tsunamis), in crime investigations and in case of disfigured bodies due to fire and motor vehicle accidents. The various methods employed in forensic odontology include radiographs, antemortem & postmortem photographs, tooth prints, rugoscopy (study of palatal rugae patterns), chieloscopy (study of lip prints) and molecular methods like polymerase chain reaction for pulp DNA analysis. The investigative methods applied in forensic odontology are reasonably reliable, yet the shortcomings must be accounted for to make it a more meaningful and relevant procedure.