The Oral Health Professional’s Role In Forensic Dentistry
By Joseph W. Evans, DDS
Forensic dentistry, or forensic odontology, focuses on the examination, evaluation, management and presentation of dental evidence in civil or criminal legal proceedings. It can be used to identify human remains in individual deaths or mass disaster events, note signs and symptoms of abuse or neglect, help to estimate approximate age, and assess a subject‘s oral cavity. While forensic dentistry is a specialized field, oral health professionals play an important role by maintaining accurate dental records that may be used for identification in future cases.
