Forensic Dentistry - Identification from the Dentist's Point of View

Abstract: The paper deals with an identification of missing persons based on adental documentation. The procedure of the identification is presented in two casereports with a new possibility of electronic imaging called Dental Cross incomparison with classical dental documentation, which is officially used foridentification of the missing persons by Interpol. Introduction The most common role of the forensic dentistry is the identification of deceasedindividuals. The dental identification of humans occurs for a number of differentreasons, mainly in those cases when the body is fragmentized or disfigured andvisual recognition cannot be done. Dental identifications have always played a keyrole in natural and manmade disaster situations and particular in the mass casualtiesassociated with aviation disasters. The identification is essential from both of thehumanitarian and the religious points of view as well as for judicial reasons [1].The dental examination is very accurate and also nowadays, in the time of acomprehensive fingerprint and DNA assessment, objectively supported. Theidentification, which is based on, the dental documentation leads up to 43–89 %of a successful process [1] and it is still a method of choice. The importance ofteeth for identification consists in their highly mineralized composition, whichmakes them resistant to the influences of external environment. They are notchanged by post-mortem decomposition and usually withstand to flames, alkali oreven to weak acids [2, 3]. One’s teeth are also an excellent resource of DNA [4].Mostly the identification results from a medical treatment and its documentation.The regular dental examination of patients is generally carried out at least once totwice a year so their dental records represent important source of identificationdata. Registration of dental records is mandatory in several EU countries, healthinsurance companies require it and it is performed in dental private clinics as well.The American Board of Forensic Odontology (ABFO) adopted Guidelines for theBite Mark Analysis on February 21st, 1984. These recommendations were laterprovided as an obligatory legal norm. The American Board of ForensicOdontology [5] recommended that the results of the dental identification shouldbe divided into four categories as follows:1.