- Title
- Validity of forensic odontology identification by comparison of conventional dental radiographs: A scoping review
- Creator
- Chiam, Sher-Lin; Page, Mark; Higgins, Denice; Taylor, Jane
- Relation
- Science and Justice Vol. 59, Issue 1, p. 93-101
- Publisher Link
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2018.08.008
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2019
- Description
- Identification of the deceased by forensic dental comparison is well accepted as valid and efficient and is one of the primary methods relied upon in disaster victim identification. A vital component of this method of identification is image comparison with dental radiographs, which continues to provide the most valuable source of evidence. Radiographs as a graphic record of dental status contain more verifiable information and detail than written descriptions or charts. Human error can lead to inaccuracies in written records but an image provides an irrefutable source of information. Recently, there has been increased focus on quantification of accuracy, reliability and the objectivity of comparative forensic science disciplines. The 2011 President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) report, which focused specifically on the issues pertaining to comparative forensic sciences, identified the need for empirical investigations into validation of methods. While identification via dental comparison, in contrast to bitemark analysis, did not come under direct scrutiny in either the 2009 National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report or the PCAST report, it is important that validation studies are conducted on all aspects of forensic odontology work. To date, only one review of the literature from the period of 1990 to 1994 regarding the validity of radiographs for forensic identification has been undertaken. This review looked specifically at the use of bitewing radiographs and discussed only four studies. Empirical research since then has included additional types of radiographs and variations in method design, making it a heterogeneous group of studies. In this study we undertake a scoping review to provide an overview of existing empirical research with regards to the validity of using dental radiographs for identification. Information from identified relevant studies has been extracted, collated and summarised to present a landscape of the research. The main issues pertaining to research into this method of forensic identification are also discussed.
- Subject
- forensic odontology identification; dental radiographs; forensic identification; bitemark analysis
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1411430
- Identifier
- uon:36335
- Identifier
- ISSN:1355-0306
- Language
- eng
- Full Text
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