CAD/CAM: A New Revolution in Forensics

Dentistry has embraced technological advances in computeraided dentistry and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) for the past three decades since clinical dentistry demands that patients receive the highest quality of care in a timely and compassionate manner to do so [1]. Computer-aided dentistry has been employed to digitize dental structures and the oral cavity for the virtual design of simple and complex prosthetic units [2]. Forensic dentistry which in a new branch of dentistry, deals with the confirmation of an individual’s unique identity involved in a crime or death. This process too demands the highest possible degree of accuracy to satisfy the logistical and emotional needs of all parties involved [3]. The experience and expertise of the individual performing the comparison for forensic need; the availability, quality and age of the records; and the postmortem damage are limiting factors [4].