More than a smile, contributions of dentistry to forensic sciences: a narrative review

Joana Catarina Silva Vitória; Augusta Pureza Alves Silveira; Cláudia Patrícia Campos Ribeiro; Pedro Moisés Soares Monteiro; Márcia Cláudia Dias Carvalho; Maria Inês de Sousa Barreto Guimarães do Couto

doi:10.62741/ahrj.v3iSuppl. 2.182

Authors

Joana Catarina Silva Vitória Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Fernando Pessoa, Porto, Portugal
Augusta Pureza Alves Silveira Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Fernando Pessoa, Porto, Portugal ; FP-I3ID, Instituto de Investigação, Inovação e Desenvolvimento; FP-BHS, Ciências Biomédicas e da Saúde, Porto, Portugal ; CEISUC-Centro de Investigação em Tecnologias e Centro de Estudos e Pesquisa em Saúde da Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal ; RISE-Health, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Fernando Pessoa, Fundação Cultura e Ensino Fernando Pessoa, Porto, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9349-3443
Cláudia Patrícia Campos Ribeiro Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Fernando Pessoa, Porto, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0544-4973
Pedro Moisés Soares Monteiro Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Fernando Pessoa, Porto, Portugal https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7279-7009
Márcia Cláudia Dias Carvalho Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Fernando Pessoa, Porto, Portugal; FP-I3ID, Instituto de Investigação, Inovação e Desenvolvimento; FP-BHS, Ciências Biomédicas e da Saúde, Porto, Portugal; CINTESIS.UFP@rise, Centro de Investigação em Tecnologias e Serviços de Saúde, Universidade Fernando Pessoa, Porto, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9884-4751
Maria Inês de Sousa Barreto Guimarães do Couto Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Fernando Pessoa, Porto, Portugal; FP-I3ID, Instituto de Investigação, Inovação e Desenvolvimento; FP-BHS, Ciências Biomédicas e da Saúde, Porto, Portugal; CEISUC-Centro de Investigação em Tecnologias e Centro de Estudos e Pesquisa em Saúde da Uni-versidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; RISE-Health, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Fernando Pessoa, Fundação Cultura e Ensino Fernando Pessoa, Porto, Portugal; nstituto Nacional de Medicina Legal e Ciências Forenses, Delegação Norte https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3687-7798

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62741/ahrj.v3iSuppl.%202.182

Keywords:

INMLCF, Forensic Dentistry, Legal-medical expertise, Forensic Pathology

Abstract

Introduction: Forensic dentistry has become an essential element of forensic sciences, contributing to human identification and medicine-legal proceedings. Beyond clinical practice, dentists play a crucial role in the analysis of orofacial injuries and identification procedures.

Objectives: This study aims to analyze the role of dentists in legal medicine, highlighting their intervention in this area, as well as their integration as experts, direct participants or potential victims in legal-medical proceedings.

Methodology: A literature review was conducted using the PubMed databases, employing the Mesh-terms “forensic dentistry”, “human identification” and “dentists”. The following inclusion criteria were applied: articles published between 2020 and 2025, in Portuguese and English, duplicate articles and/or those whose content did not correspond to the proposed topic, were excluded.

Results: Forensic dentistry plays a decisive role in human identification, especially in cases where the body is visually unrecognizable. Dental structures provide reliable data for age determination and identification. Dentists are in a unique position in identifying signs of abuse, particularly in children, through the correct recognition and documentation of oral injuries. Specifically, the dental diagnosis of injuries such as bite marks, dentoalveolar fractures, and soft tissue lacerations provides crucial physical evidence. When documented through clinical records, photographs, and radiographs, these findings serve as objective material proofs to substantiate and retrieve medical-legal proceedings. Additionally, these professionals may also act as expert witnesses in legal cases. Reviewed literature also highlights increasing concerns regarding professional liability and legal conflicts in dental practice.

Conclusion: In conclusion, forensic dentistry plays a multidisciplinary role bridging health and justice. Its forensic applications are essential for human identification, legal investigations and the production of technically substantiated expert evidence. Dentists contribute to technically grounded responses, essential for families and society, affirming themselves as active agents in upholding scientific truth, human dignity and justice.

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