DENTAL DOCUMENTATION FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF FORENSIC DENTISTRY: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Dental documentation, from the perspective of Forensic Dentistry, is a set of technical and scientific records prepared by the dentist during clinical care. There are several documents and they require the patient's signature for legal validation, in addition to being correctly filled out. In the legal scenario, this documentation becomes essential in the dentist's work as a means of evidence in cases of legal proceedings, especially in civil actions and in human identification procedures. The objective of this work is to analyze, through a literature review, the importance of dental documentation from the perspective of Forensic Dentistry. The research was carried out in the databases “Scielo” (Scientific Electronic Library Online), Capes Periodicals, PubMed, Virtual Health Library (BVS), resolutions of the CFO (Federal Council of Dentistry), Ibero- American Journals of Humanities, Sciences and Education, using the descriptors: “dental documentation”, “forensic dentistry”, “civil liability” and “dental expertise”. Fourteen articles that met the inclusion criteria were selected. After a thorough analysis, it was possible to conclude that dental documentation plays an essential role in guaranteeing legal certainty, ensuring the defense of the professional, the protection of the patient's rights and the integrity of clinical practice. In addition, its relevance as a forensic identification tool and as legal support in civil proceedings stands out.