EDITORIAL

Forensic Odontology
Thorakkal Shamim

Forensic odontology is a specialized field of dentistry the apple. This was the first reported evidence of
related to legal problem.1 It is one of the most rapidly bitemark in the history of mankind. The late President of
developing branches of forensic medicine and forensic Pakistan, General Zia-ul-Haq died in the year 1988 in a
science. This branch gives immense importance to plane crash due to an explosion. He was identified from
dental evidence for the identification of victims and his dentition.3 The late Indian Prime Minister Mr. Rajiv
suspects in mass disasters, abuse and organized Gandhi was assassinated in a terrorist attack in 1991
crimes. This relatively small speciality within the forensic and was also identified from his dentition.3
sciences has been utilized for many years, principally in Dental tissue is often preserved indefinitely after death.
the area of establishing identity. A complete charting of dentition using FDI system or
Forensic odontology can be defined in many ways.1 The any other nomenclature should be done.1 The type of
Federation Dentaire Internationale (FDI) defines dentition (either permanent or deciduous) and surfaces
forensic odontology as that branch of dentistry which, in of teeth involved should be evaluated. Teeth, periodontal
the interest of justice, deals with the proper handling and tissues and normal anatomical features are assessed in
examination of dental evidence and with the proper comparative dental identification. Odontograms
evaluation and presentation of dental findings.1 (symbolic pictorial description of dentition) form a basic
According to the American Society of Forensic outline to compare dental characteristics at the simplest
Odontology, forensic odontology is by definition, the level.1
application of dental science to the law, i.e. the use of The science of bitemark analysis is a vital area in
dental evidence in the interest of justice. forensic odontology and has been instrumental in
Based on the major fields of activity, Avon classified criminal investigations of homicide, sexual assault and
forensic odontology into civil, criminal and research.2 abuse cases.4 The most common method used to
The civil field is concerned with mass disasters such as document and preserve bite mark evidence is through
airline accidents, earthquakes or train accidents which the use of photography. The bite site should be
require identification of the victims in advanced stages of photographed using conventional photography and
physical destruction. It is also concerned with following the guidelines described by the ABFO
malpractice and different types of fraud and neglect (American Board of Forensic Odontology) bite mark
where damage may be sought. It also deals with the age analysis guidelines. ABFO have developed a scale
assessment of individuals such as in cases of teen (ABFO scale No.2) to compare bite marks. Bite marks
marriages in the absence of any birth document and in can also be interpreted through soft tissue radiography.
the case of accident victims who are suffering from This has the advantage of penetrating the tissue, there
amnesia who may have to be identified. The criminal by revealing damage that might not be observed in the
field is concerned with the identification of persons from photographic approach. Xeroradiography, contrast
their dental remains alone in cases of homicide, rape or enhanced radiography and overlays can also add
suicide through bitemark analysis, palatal rugoscopy valuable information and should be considered as an
and cheiloscopy. Finally, the research field is devoted to adjunct to standard photographic procedures. Human
forensic odontology training for medical and dental dentition is influenced by genetic factors and
professionals. environmental factors that determine the position of the
teeth in the arch. The dentist in practice observes the
The use of dental identification appears in scattered individuality of human dentition commonly but there is
instances throughout recorded history and primitive no database to express quantitatively this uniqueness of
forms of dental identification may have been used in pre- human dentition. More research is required to
historic times. According to the old testament of the investigate bite mark accuracy and reliability in forensic
Bible, Adam was convinced by Eve to put a 'bitemark' on odontology.
Age assessment using teeth provides the most reliable
Government Taluk Head Quarters Hospital, Nilambur, India.
guide in the process of identification.5 Various methods
Correspondence: Dr. Thorakkal Shamim, Shangrila, Parappanangadi- are utilized including the visual method, radiographic
676303, India. method, histological method and physical and chemical
E-mail: [email protected] analysis. Eruption sequence, neonatal line formation,
Received October 22, 2009; accepted November 14, 2009. incremental lines of Retzius, Schour and Massler chart

Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan 2010, Vol. 20 (1): 1-2 1
Thorakkal Shamim

(to estimate dental age in developing dentition) and awareness, neither the government nor the people have
Gustafson's method are important parameters in age completely understood the role that can be played by a
estimation. Gustafson studied the changes occurring in forensic dentist.
individual teeth and succeeded in estimating age with
some accuracy. He used 6 dental changes connected REFERENCES
with aging namely, attrition, apical migration of 1. Shamim T, Ipe Varughese V, Shameena PM, Sudha S. Forensic
periodontal ligament, deposition of secondary dentin, odontology: a new perspective. Medicolegal Update 2006; 6:1-4.
cemental opposition, root resorption and transparency
2. Avon SL. Forensic odontology: the roles and responsibilities of
the dentist. J Can Dent Assoc 2004; 70:453-8.
of the root dentin.
Forensic odontology embraces all dental specialities.
3. Shamim T, Sudha S, Shameena PM, Ipe Varghese V. An insight
to forensic odontology. Kerala Dent J 2006; 29:45-7.
Hence, it is almost impossible to segregate this branch
from other dental specialities. Appreciation of the
forensic field should give the dental clinician another 4. Shamim T, Ipe Varghese V, Shameena PM, Sudha S. Human
bitemarks: the tool marks of the oral cavity. J Indian Acad
Forensic Med 2006; 28:52-4.
reason to maintain legible and legally acceptable
records and assist legal authorities in the identification
of victims and suspects.The forensic odontologist 5. Shamim T, Ipe Varghese V, Shameena PM, Sudha S.
should have a broad background knowledge of general Age estimation: a dental approach. J Punjab Acad Forensic Med Toxicol
dentistry, encompassing all dental specialities and he 2006; 6:14-6.
should have basic knowledge of the role of the forensic 6. Shamim T, Ipe Varghese V, Shameena PM, Mahesh MR.
pathologist and the methods used in autopsy.6 Forensic odontology to the rescue: a case report. Medicolegal
Unfortunately, in India, probably due to the lack of proper Update 2006; 6:115-8.

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2 Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan 2010, Vol. 20 (1): 1-2