Dental Profiling in Forensic Science

Forensic sciences include a wide spectrum of different disciplines, which are applied individually or collectively in order to obtain answers to questions within a legal context. A forensic dentist can reliably establish the identity of an individual by analysing the teeth and the oral cavity. The study of teeth and the surrounding tissues of the oral cavity for the purpose of establishing the identity of a victim is called dental profiling. By applying the dental profiling techniques, not only age, gender and race of an individual can be determined, but also the data about their socio-economic status, personal habits, oral and systemic health, occupation, diet, familial relationship as well as psychological characteristics. A dental profile is more detailed and reliable if more than one technique is applied. Each individual has their own dental profile which makes them unique and one of a kind. Education in the field of forensic dentistry and techniques of dental profiling is necessary since it contributes greatly to the reputation of the dental profession in other related disciplines as well as in public, and it encourages dentists to view their own achievements from a wider perspective.