Mohammad Akbar Khalil, Adil Jan, Abdullah, Tariq Aziz.
Human`s dentition use in criminal investigations.
Pak Oral Dental J Jan ;34(4):743-7.

Dental hard tissues are extremely resistant to fire, chemical decomposition and are usually the only remains after an extended period of burial. Forensic dentistry is dealing with legal problems. This branch gives immense importance to dental evidence for the identification of victims and suspects in mass disasters, abuse and organized crimes. The uniqueness dentition has a crucial role in criminal investigations. The objective of this study was to determine the uniqueness of human dentition which varies among individuals and help in forensic investigations in case of crimes. Samples of 150 patients, from both genders, above age 15, reporting to department of Prosthodontics were included in this study. After history taking and examination; impression from all participants were taken in alginate impression material. The impressions were poured with dental stone. Measurements were done on casts/models of the patients. Intercanine distance, teeth sizes, shapes, rotation, labioversion, linguoversion, infra/supraocclusion, number of missing teeth, wear patterns, prosthesis in mouth, filling and crowns and bridges were recorded from the cast. Intercanine distances ranged from 20.6 to 40 mm. Majority of them were in the age range 21-30 years. Attritions were common tooth wear pattern. Localized and generalized spacing were of same percentages. U-shape arch forms were common in both arches. All these measurement showed variation among individuals which emphasizes that human dentition has an important role in criminal investigations.

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