Forensic dentistry and disaster victim identification (DVI) in Indonesia

Abstract

The forensic dentist plays an important role in the disaster victim identification (DVI) operations. The first aim of this study was to explore the opinions of Indonesian dentists on the importance of dental records and the respective awareness of Forensic Dentistry. The second aim was to investigate the basic profile of the Indonesian dentists and their experiences working in the DVI operations. Two web-based surveys (S1 and S2) were sent to 360 Indonesian dentists and 8 Indonesia DVI team members, respectively. Results for S1 showed that most dentists (305 out of 341) are aware of the field and the importance of dental records in human identification; however, only 26% of dentists always compile a complete dental chart of the patient. DVI team members (6 out of 8) have an academic background in the field and only the minority experienced difficulties in deployments. Indonesia is susceptible to natural disasters and dentists proved to be important in DVI. Although the Ministry of Health of Indonesia have provided guidelines, the recording of dental data is not up to standard. A regular and systematic monitoring by the dental councils to every dental clinic would certify if dentists are compiling and keeping accurate dental records.

The Role of Oral And Maxillofacial Radiology in Identification: Review

“…20 Comparative identity analysis can also be performed with bitewing radiographs. 1,8,21 In the studies conducted by Wenzel et al 22 , and Fridell and Ahlqvist 23 , who conducted research on adults on this subject, it was stated that identification would be made with bitewing radiographs. However, it was suggested that it would be more difficult to diagnose pediatric patients in these studies.…”

“…25 Panoramic radiographs are one of the imaging methods used for identification. 1,21 Panoramic radiograms are very useful in identification because they include a large area in a single image. It is used for age estimation.…”

Improving knowledge of antemortem dental records through community empowerment programs in disaster-prone areas of Indonesia

“…Some institutions in Indonesia, such as the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), police, pilots, and flight attendants, can provide good-quality dental records as antemortem data. However, most Indonesians in rural areas are unaware of the importance of routine dental check-ups and treatments [19,20]. This condition has the potential to complicate the process of identifying victims of mass disasters due to the lack of antemortem dental data.…”

Evaluating dentist knowledge and its impact on compliance with dental record maintenance in Sidoarjo Region, Jawa Timur, Indonesia

“…However, studies conducted in the past have revealed that the implementation of good dental record practices in Indonesia is not widespread. Specific institutions in Indonesia, such as the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), police, pilots, and flight attendants, have successfully maintained high-quality dental records, especially for antemortem data purposes [7,8].…”