Forensic dentistry is the application of dental knowledge to those criminal and civil laws that are enforced by police agencies in a criminal justice system. Forensic dentists are involved in assisting investigative agencies to identify recovered human remains in addition to the identification of whole or fragmented bodies; forensic dentists may also be asked to assist in determining age, race, occupation, previous dental history and socioeconomic status of unidentified human beings. Identification is done by the comparison of ante-mortem and post-mortem dental records and using the unique features visible on dental radiographs.[1]
Forensic dentists are responsible for six main areas of practice:
Identification of found human remains
Identification in mass fatalities
Assessment of bite mark injuries
Assessment of cases of abuse (such as child, spousal or elder abuse)
Civil cases involving malpractice
Age estimation