Forensic oral dentistry: a comprehensive focus for forensic dentistry

Excerpt

According to the US National Academy of Sciences (NAS) (2009), forensic dentistry is the application of the science of dentistry to the field of law. It includes several distinct focuses: the identification of unknown remains, bite mark comparison, the interpretation of oral injury, and dental malpractice [1]. While this definition is versatile enough, the identification of human remains assumes a primary role in forensic dentistry. In 2009, we presented a case of suicidal intraoral gunshot [2]. Because of the atypical entry and exit wounds, microscopic analysis of the tongue was performed to confirm the intraoral entry wound. We concluded that forensic dentistry can be used for more than just the identification of human remains and we proposed the term “forensic oral pathology” to define the field of dentistry that involves the identification, documentation, recovery, and preservation of all signs in soft and hard oral tissues in order to make legal evidence available [2]. …