Indian Journal of Forensic Odontology

Forensic dentistry, from its earliest conception, is more or less an offshoot of forensic medicine, the dental surgeon being consulted only in cases where dental data and details are evident to them. With the passage of time, the role of dentistry has increased as very often teeth and dental restorations are the only means of identification, especially after tragic destructive disasters, accidents, and fires where facial configuration and fingerprints are entirely lost. Teeth, jaw bone, salivary remnants, elements from oral tissues and tissue fluids, presence of foreign bodies, sinus configuration, skull sutures,comparison possibilitiesfrom radiographs of small and specific sites of the jaws and teeth, model comparisons, dental chart comparisons, dental treatment comparison, and DNA analysis all provide an enormous wealth of identification characteristics and knowledge. This article gives the readers an understanding of the role of a dentist as a forensic odontologist and also emphasizes the need for good quality and accurate dental records. 

Key words: Forensic science; Identification; Odontology; Teeth. 

Forensic expertise methodology normally used in different criminal investigation and forensic medicine field such as blood type, anthropologic analysis and forensic dentistry (dental records, X-rays, bite marks, among others) solved and will continue solving many crimes. Those methods will continue estimating age of several people. Nevertheless, since the development of genetics and molecular biology there were an increase in number and quality of solved cases. The present work points out the importance to associate certain forensic biology areas to traditional investigation methods in human identification, especially with forensic dentistry. It also shows that in some situations, teeth are an important source to genetic analysis and molecular studies. After a scientific literature review it was concluded that it is mandatory that those in forensic investigations acquire knowledge in forensic genetics in order to apply with traditional investigation techniques, this fact would produce an increase of information to Justice.  

Key Words: Forensic dentistry; Genetic analysis; Molecular biology; Victim identification. 

This article aims to review the various forms of child abuse and neglect and its management in dental settings. Health, education and social services are placing increasing emphasis on preventing abuse and neglect by early intervention to support families where children and young adults may be at risk. The importance of an early recognition is based on the effective intervention. All members of dental team have a unique opportunity and ethical obligation to assist in identifying and reporting child abuse. They should be aware of the warning signs, recognizing what to consider as abuse or dental neglect and know how to deal with such cases. However, oral health professionals may not detect dental aspects of abuse or neglect, as readily as they do with symptoms and signs involving oral health and dental injury and disease. Therefore, dentists are encouraged to collaborate to increase the prevention, detection and treatment of these conditions.

Key words: Child abuse; Dental team; Dental neglect; Forensic odontology. 

Palatal rugae, also called as plicae palatinae transverse or rugae palatine refers to the ridges or elevations on the anterior part of the palatal mucosa present on either side of the mid palatine raphe behind the incisive papilla. It is widely present in mammals. Studies of palatal rugae (rugoscopy) can be successfully implemented to reveal the identity of an individual. Rugoscopy can be used as compensatory process to dactyloscopy. Palatal rugae had been applied in various fields such as anthropology, comparative anatomy, genetics, forensic odontology, prosthodontics and orthodontics. This study analyzes the rugae pattern in dentulous and edentulous patients and also evaluates the association of rugae pattern between male and female.

Key words: Forensic Identification; Palatal Rugae; Rugoscopy.