Age-Related Utility of Dental Records in Human Identification

Forensic odontology can be considered a very reliable tool for human identification, especially when the use of fingerprints and DNA analysis is not feasible. Forensic odontology achieves this reliability through the comparison between antemortem dental records and postmortem dental findings. Antemortem dental records can include radiographs, charts, photographs, and three-dimensional images of the deceased, while postmortem records include photographs, radiographs, and all the records of dental findings obtained from the deceased. However, the conclusion for identification results from the comparison of unique features present in the antemortem and postmortem records. Features that can offer the best results for comparison include dental treatments such as fillings, crowns, root canal treatment, dental implants, and prostheses. Therefore, dental treatment can be considered the gold standard, as no two people typically can have the same dental work. In the absence of dental work, the unique features of dentition, maxillofacial morphological structures, along with congenital anomalies, can offer the best results for identification. The present research aims to assess the usefulness of dental information sources for human identification, focusing on different age groups. This research article is a retrospective analysis of 81 forensic odontology cases conducted at the Department of Applied Forensic Sciences at Mercyhurst University. The cases were divided into three different age groups: juvenile, adult, and elderly. Each case was analyzed with respect to the types of dental information used for human identification, such as restorations, prostheses, surgical devices, and anatomy. The results showed that, for human identification, each of the three age groups has different challenges and benefits. In the juvenile group, individuals lacked dental treatment, requiring the use of anatomy for human identification. In the adult group, individuals showed unique restoration procedures that served as effective markers for human identification. In the elderly, the presence of dentures and the use of prosthetics made the label on the dentures and the fit of the bone critical for human identification. This research article confirms the importance of the role of forensic odontology in human identification.