Author: Asst. Lecturer Noor Fathi Kadhim

Forensic science plays a crucial role in criminal investigations and legal cases by providing scientific evidence that can help identify victims, suspects, and causes of injury or death.
Since teeth are the most indestructible part of the human body and are resistant to almost all environmental conditions like fire, desiccation, and decomposition so teeth are considered a reliable source of forensic investigation.
Among the various branches of forensic science, forensic dentistry (also called forensic odontology) and forensic radiology have emerged as highly valuable disciplines. Both rely on the unique anatomical and radiographic features of teeth, bones, and facial structures, making them essential tools in human identification and crime resolution.
radiology has a long tradition in the forensic sciences. Its history started in 1895 when the first radiograph was made by Conrad Roentgen. Three years later, in 1898, postmortem radiographic examination was introduced.
Applications of Forensic Radiology:
1. body identification: the primary methods used for victim identifications are visual identification, fingerprint identification, DNA identification, identification by the presence of unique medical device and dental identification.
Visual identification, although the most common method, but it considered unreliable. Fingerprint identification is common but requires the presence of previous records and the fingerprints may not be intact in cases where body undergo decomposition.
Identification by medical devices can be made only if these devices have serial numbers.
Dental identification has many advantages over the other techniques. Empirical testing has proven that it is reliable, straightforward when antemortem images are available, and readily demonstrable in court of law. It is also quick and inexpensive (unlike DNA identification)
Dental radiology is crucial in this field, as it captures post-mortem (after death) images of the remains and compares them to ante-mortem (before death) dental records of missing persons to establish an identification. Radiographs reveal unique dental features like fillings, root canals, and bone structure, which serve as critical evidence for forensic dentists.
2. Detection of trauma – fractures, gunshot wounds, and other injuries can be visualized and analyzed
3. Age Estimation: Radiographs can evaluate tooth eruption in children, In adults, pulp/tooth ratio, third molar development, and secondary dentin deposition are measured.
4. Sex Determination: Dimorphic features such as tooth size, mandibular morphology, and skull characteristics can be assessed on radiographs
4. Bite Mark Analysis: Radiographs of dental arches can be compared with bite mark impressions on victims or objects to link suspects
5. Identification of Foreign Bodies: Bullets, dental materials, or prostheses detected radiographically can aid in establishing identity or cause of injury
6. Facial and Skull Reconstruction: Advanced radiographic techniques like CT and CBCT assist in 3D reconstruction of facial features for forensic identification
7. Documentation and Legal Evidence: Radiographs provide permanent, objective, and court-admissible records that can be re-examined whenever needed

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Forensic dentistry