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Review Article

Forensics in Orthodontics: A Narrative Review

Anurag Mukherjee, Harsh Garg, Anil Sharma

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Indian Journal of Forensic Odontology 19(1):p 27-33, Jan - June 2026. | DOI: 10.21088/ijfo.0974.505X.19126.4

How Cite This Article:

Anurag Mukherjee, Harsh Garg, Anil Sharma. Forensics in Orthodontics: A Narrative Review. Ind J Forensic Odontol 2026; 19(1): 27-33.

Timeline

Received : April 27, 2026         Accepted : May 28, 2026          Published : June 30, 2026

Abstract

Orthodontic records including radiographs, three-dimensional digital models, and study casts serve as invaluable antemortem data for human identification due to their high detail and longitudinal nature. Research highlights the stability of anatomical landmarks like palatal rugae and the individuality of malocclusion patterns as reliable biometric markers. Furthermore, orthodontic appliances act as durable physical identifiers in forensic investigations and mass disasters. By integrating clinical documentation with emerging technologies like artificial intelligence or three-dimensional superimposition, orthodontics significantly enhances the accuracy of age estimation and victim identification, reinforcing its vital role in forensic odontology.


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Data Sharing Statement

There are no additional data available. All raw data and code are available upon request.

Funding

This research received no funding.

Author Contributions

All authors contributed significantly to the work and approve its publication.

Ethics Declaration

This article does not involve any human or animal subjects, and therefore does not require ethics approval.

Acknowledgements

We would like to express our gratitude to the patients, their families, and all those who have contributed to this study.

Conflicts of Interest

No conflicts of interest in this work.


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Cite this article

Anurag Mukherjee, Harsh Garg, Anil Sharma. Forensics in Orthodontics: A Narrative Review. Ind J Forensic Odontol 2026; 19(1): 27-33.


Licence:

Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.



Received Accepted Published
April 27, 2026 May 28, 2026 June 30, 2026

DOI: 10.21088/ijfo.0974.505X.19126.4

Keywords

Forensic Odontology •Orthodontic RecordsIdentificationPalatal Rugae

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Received April 27, 2026
Accepted May 28, 2026
Published June 30, 2026

licence


Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.



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