Forensic Dentistry as a Morphological Exercise in the Medico-legal Investigation of Death

Abstract

In forensics, the nature of collected evidence makes analysis in many disciplines complex. Each type of trace evidence requires a unique systematic approach, and even though these approaches are significantly based on the size and morphology of the evidence being examined. In 1999, the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers adopted the Recommendation No. R (99)3 on the harmonization of medico-legal autopsies. This document promoted the adoption of internationally recognized and standardized protocols for forensic autopsies. Nevertheless, the interdisciplinary philosophy still needs integration of information from various investigative sources. An orientated and correct examination of the oral cavity requires specific knowledge of its anatomy and physiopathology, and of the procedures most adapted for its study, and thus the participation of a qualified odontologist is advisable. On the basis that there is not a current protocol that establishes the participation of the dentist during all medico-legal autopsies, we present a review based on that significant document, including reports and personal findings of oral injury patterns. Finally, a new paradigm on the participation of the forensic dentist in the medico-legal investigation of death is discussed.

Forensic nursing in the emergency department The distance between performed role behaviors by nurses and their perception of behaviors’ importance

“…Participants perceived this behavior as not important. Forensic dentistry focuses on identifying, documenting, recovering, and preserving all signs in the soft and hard tissues of the mouth to provide forensic evidence (30). Lynch 1990 states that the item about dental charts is a control item of the questionnaire, that was included in the questionnaire to make a reliable level of results, and high scores were not expected.…”

Latin American Forensic Odontology: A Scoping Review of its Current Research and the Objective/Subjective Nature of its Studies

“…Fonseca (2015) admits that, having sufficient oral pathological signs in violent deaths that justify the involvement of an odontologist in all the medico-legal autopsies, with very few exceptions, there is no mention of this function or field of knowledge in any formal guideline on FO. This morphological perspective to identify and interpret specific patterns in oral hard and soft tissues during medicolegal autopsy remains unknown, not only to evaluate the subjectivity of the assessments but also to recognize it as an area of focus and responsibility of the FO (Fonseca et al, 2013).…”

Oral Autopsy – Dental Surgeon’s Perspective

“…Oral autopsy involves extraoral and intraoral examination. Extraoral observation must include facial asymmetry, lacerations, any pathology and change in color of the skin or lips 6 , while intraoral examination involves evaluation of hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity. Hard tissue examination comprise of dental charting, identification of dental restorations, implants, dentures or any other artificial material on the teeth and associated structures, fracture of bone or teeth, while soft tissues must be looked upon for any wrinkling, dryness, peeling, hematoma, laceration, developmental anomalies, pathological changes or lesions on the oral mucosa 7 .…”

“…Virtopsy is more effective in comparative dental identification 19 and Table 2. Oro-facial manifestations under various circumstances of death 6,9 Sno.…”