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Abstract
Forensic Odontology is a relatively new science that utilizes the dentist's knowledge to serve the judicial system. Human identification is a mainstay of civilization and the identification of unknown individuals always has been of paramount importance to the society. Worldwide, dentists qualified in forensic science are giving expert opinion in cases related to human identification, bite mark analysis, craniofacial trauma and malpractice. Human identification relies heavily on the quality of dental records. Dental records consist of documents related to the history of present illness, clinical examination, diagnosis, treatment done, and the prognosis. Dental identification has proven successful in many cases. A thorough knowledge of dental records is essential for the practicing dentist, as it not only has a forensic application, but also a legal implication with respect to insurance and consumerism. This article reviews the importance of dental records in forensics and need to keep dental records of all the patients which may be of immense value in unfortunate events. Primarily aims at making general practitioners aware about the importance of keeping the various types of dental records and urging the concerned authorities to enforce a law making it mandatory to maintain dental records.
Keywords: Dental records, forensics, medico legal and Forensic Odontology
[INTRODUCTION
Forensic odontology is the application of the art and science of dentistry to resolve matters pertaining to the law. Some of the diverse facets of this unique discipline can range from the identification of human remains to mass disaster management, from the assessment of bite marks and patterned skin injuries to the use of dental materials in the examination of evidence.1 Forensic dentistry is a challenging and fascinating branch of forensic science that involves the application of dental sciences in the identification of deceased individuals through the comparison of anteand post-mortem records. From AD 66 till date, dental identification has proved vital in identifying deceased individuals, the first case being accepted by the law in the year 1849.1 The dental record, also referred to as the patient's chart, is the official office document that records all of the treatment done and all patient-related communications that occur in the dental office. State and federal laws or regulations determine how it is handled, how long it is kept and who...