Indian Journal of Forensic Odontology

The identification of human remains can be carried out by means of anthropological methods (1), dental structure analysis (2), and DNA-based analytical methods (3). DNA analysis remains the only method of identification mainly when there is little remaining material to perform such identification (e.g., in fires, explosions, decomposing bodies or skeletonized bodies), which has led dentists working with forensic investigation to become more familiar with the new molecular biology techniques. The currently available DNA tests have high reliable. This article presents a literature review referring to the main studies on Forensic Dentistry that involve the use of DNA for human identification, and makes an overview of the evolution of this technology in the last years, highlighting the importance of molecular biology in forensic sciences.

Key words: DNA; forensic dentistry; molecular biology

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the mesiodistal and buccolingual crown dimensions of the maxillary canines and maxillary first molars in three ethnic groups of Coorg: 39 Malayalees [19 males and 20 females], 33 Coorgis [17 males and 16 females] and 33 Tibetans [17 males and 16 females]. It also investigates the presence of sexual dimorphism in the dimensions of these teeth in this population., Materials and methods: Buccolingual (BL) and mesiodistal (MD) dimensions of maxillary first molars and maxillary canines were measured on 105 dental casts with vernier calipers with a resolution of 0.02 mm. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests and ANOVA., Results: Male values exceeded female ones in all observed dimensions. The canines showed higher mean differences between sexes in BL and MD dimensions when compared to the first molars in all the three ethnic groups (p<0.05)., Significant differences between the three ethnic groups were evident in a few tooth dimensions, the difference in the BL dimensions of molars being the most pronounced., Conclusion: Sexual dimorphism exists in this population of Coorg, with the maxillary canines being more dimorphic than the maxillary first molars. Hence, odontometry of maxillary canine teeth can effectively be used as an adjunct in the determination of sex along with other odontometric and skeletal traits. However, the use of this method for determining ethnicity in this population is questionable.

Keywords: Forensic odontology, sex determination, ethnicity

In this paper review the art of dental autopsy. It is very important for dentist to write nice and accurate autopsy reports for medico- legal propose.

Key words: Dental autopsy, dentist