HUMAN IDENTIFICATION IN CHARRING VICTIMS: FORENSIC DENTAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

Introduction: Forensic dentistry is of great importance, as several techniques are applied to identify victims through dental arches, which allows estimating sex, age, ancestry, height and genetics (DNA). Objective: This literature review aims to show the efficiency of Forensic Dentistry analysis in identifying charred bodies, considering that some methods can be applied to identify bodies, such as dental analysis, comparison of dental records and through genetics through the DNA of teeth. Materials and Methods: This study consists of a literature review. The inclusion criteria were articles related to the topic, with a main focus on the forensic dental identification of charred victims. Articles outside the defined theme and time frame were excluded. Conclusion: Forensic Dentistry plays an important role in the identification of charred victims, especially in scenarios where identification by means of papiloscopy or DNA becomes unfeasible due to the degradation of soft tissues, given the thermal resistance of dental elements and their wealth of individual characteristics, which can be compared through dental records. This study showed that, through the analysis of dental arches, detailed documentation, radiographs, and DNA extraction through dental pulp, it is possible to make reliable identifications even in severe charred situations.