Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology
SCOPUS
  • Year: 2022
  • Volume: 39
  • Issue: 2

Role of orthodontics in forensic facial reconstruction for human identification

1Final year postgraduate Resident, Department of Orthodontic & Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Faculty of Dental Sciences, Dharamsinh Desai University, Nadiad (Gujarat), India

2PG Student, LNJN NICFS NFSU Delhi Campus, New Delhi, India

3Assistant Professor, Forensic Science, LNJN NICFS NFSU Delhi Campus, New Delhi, India

4Professor and Head, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rajkot (Gujarat), India

*Corresponding Author: Dr. Richa Rohatgi, Assistant Professor, Forensic Science, LNJN NICFS NFSU Delhi Campus, New Delhi, India, Email: rrohatgi2020@gmail.com

Online Published on 12 January, 2023.

Abstract

Forensic science is the application of a wide range of scientific principles and techniques in thought to answer questions of interest relating to the fields of justice and law. Forensic odontology or dentistry has over the years become an intrinsic subject in the field of forensic medicine and this precise field has helped in the investigation and prosecution of crimes and criminals in many ways. The use of teeth for personal identity can yield important details such as orthodontic adjustments, dental prostheses and restorations, which remain throughout a person's life and death and play an important role in personal identity. In cases where teeth have been useful in identifying unidentified deceased body, or bite-mark evaluation in cases of sexual assaults and child abuse or in self-defence or aggression, has the potential to reveal identity of the individual who left the bite mark at the time of offence. Orthopaedists can provide essential and important clues to investigating officers as they maintain proper dental records that contain important information that can help with personal identification.

Keywords

Orthodontics, Forensic dentistry, Bite marks, Teeth, Deceased, Personal identification