Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
Volume 23, Issue 1, 2019

Forensic odontology as a humanitarian tool (Review)

Smitha T.* , Sheethal H.S. , Hema K.N. , Franklin R.
  • a Department of Oral Pathology, V S Dental College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
  • b Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, V S Dental College and Research Centre, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
  • c Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, V S Dental College and Research Centre, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
  • d Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, V S Dental College and Research Centre, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Abstract

Humanitarian forensic action is the application of skills of forensic science in a conflicts or disasters as a humanitarian action. Forensic odontologist promote forensic odontology and forensic science principles to caseworks with the purpose of preventing human right violation by human identification, age estimation and where ever dental evidence is involved. Forensic odontologist is involved in all phases of disaster victim identification. According to Disaster Victim Identification Guide, if a positive match is found using dental identification it can be trusted as a standalone identifier. Dental structures are well protected and the hardest structure of the body. They resist decomposition and high temperatures and are the last one to disintegrate after death. Dental hard tissue provide abundant information in disaster victim identification, missing and unidentified persons, child abuse and neglect, domestic violence and sexual abuse with bite mark evidence, age estimation of unaccompanied minors, border control and human trafficking. The present article highlights the role of forensic odontologist in human identification for the purpose of preventing human rights violation. © 2019 Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Published by Wolters Kluwer - Medknow.

Author Keywords

Human identification Forensic odontology humanitarian forensic action Humanitarian Humanitarian tool

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85064933123&doi=10.4103%2fjomfp.JOMFP_249_18&partnerID=40&md5=0626208de8cbddcd6c755ed1abdac64b

DOI: 10.4103/jomfp.JOMFP_249_18
ISSN: 0973029X
Original Language: English