Age determination and the importance of teeth in forensic odontology: A retrospective review

Abstract

Because of illegal immigrations, particularly after the
so called Arab spring and the growing incidence of
natural and man-made disasters which regrettably
was very common in the last three to four decades,
age determination has gained increasing importance
in legal medicine. Forensic odontology is a branch of
dentistry which deals with the proper handling and
examination of dental evidence and the proper
evaluation and presentation of dental findings in the
interest of justice. There are various methods are
used in Dentistry as an Evidence in Forensic
Identification. Dental maturity, have a very
imperative position in the assessment of age in
children and adolescents forensic examinations. As
time passes, with the increase in human greed and
aspirations to conquer more and more nations in the
false name of ‘removal of the dictators’ and the
‘forceful imposition of imported western democracy’
that has produced devastating results in the middle
east and ultimately resulting in illegal mass
immigration occurring towards Europe, eventually
resulting in increase of crime and other legal and
illegal activities, Forensic odontology as a branch in
dentistry will continue to play its important role in
legal medicine.