Forensic Dentistry in Human Identification: Overview of a Modern Science

Alessandra Putrino; Mario Raso; Valerio Bruti; Enrico Marinelli; Ersilia Barbato; Gabriella Galluccio

Alessandra Putrino DDS, Specialist in Orthodontics, PhD Researcher, Advanced Training Course in Risk Management in Healthcare and Professional Responsibility, University “Sapienza” of Rome, Rome, Italy
Mario Raso Computer Science Engineer, Italian Society for Applied and Industrial Mathematics (SIMAI) member, Rome, Italy
Valerio Bruti MD, Legal Medicine Specialist, Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
Enrico Marinelli MD, Legal Medicine Specialist, Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
Ersilia Barbato DS, DDS, Unit of Orthodontics, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
Gabriella Galluccio DS, DDS, Unit of Orthodontics, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy

Keywords: Forensic dentistry, Personal identification, Dental Analysis, Age determination, Race determination, Sex determination, Bite marks, Rugoscopy, Cheiloscopy, Oral autopsy.

Abstract

Aim: Forensic dentistry is a specialist branch of forensic sciences in which dental skills are put at the service of judicial systems mainly for investigative purposes for criminal acts or to identify victims of mass/natural disasters or structurally altered human remains. Its global evolution and modernization requires a comprehensive view of applications and available tools. Materials and methods: A scoping review of the literature on this topic was carried out by consulting the main scientific databases (PubMed, Scopus, Lilacs, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library). Inclusion and exclusion criteria were established. The data were collected on a purpose-made data collection form and analysed descriptively. Results: Studies of the applications of forensic dentistry are many and very varied. The review identified 37 relevant published articles. Some documented methods of investigation still use traditional systems of forensic dentistry while others have evolved by keeping up with the latest dental technologies. The main methods used in forensic dentistry to determine the identity of deceased or living subjects are: dental analysis useful to identify age, race and sex, cheiloscopy, bite marks, the rugoscopy, the oral autopsy. Conclusions: Forensic dentistry plays a crucial role in many situations where other equally reliable investigations to establish the identity of a subject such as the test of DNA may be non-applicable (too altered body) or expensive (large-scale). Knowing the possibilities that a forensic dentist has to contribute to identification processes has a very important social and scientific aspect and value.

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