Evaluation of identification cases involving forensic dentistry in the city of Pelotas, RS, Brazil, 2004-2006

Aim: This study investigated the use of dental arch examination as a forensic technique for body identification at the Institute of Forensic Medicine (IML, acronym in Portuguese) of Pelotas (RS), a city located in the South of Brazil. Methods: The data collected for the study referred to the period between 2004 and 2006, when a forensic dentist was part of the IML staff. The post-mortem records with regard to the entry of unidentified bodies that had undergone dental identification by the forensic dentists were analyzed quantitatively. Results: Ten unidentified bodies entered the IML and all of them were submitted to dental arch examination for body identification. However, the conclusive identification was based on the analysis of DNA, because the victims’ dental records were not accurate, complete and updated. Only five assessed bodies had been referred from Pelotas police station, two from Pedro Osório police station, one from Capão do Leão police station, one from Arroio Grande police station and one had no information about its origin. Conclusions: The current configuration of Pelotas IML staff does not include a forensic dentist, and the presence of this professional is needed, for the city is reference for referral of forensic cases from the surrounding region.

A importância do odontolegista no processo de identificação humana de vítima de desastre em massa: sugestão de protocolo de exame técnico-pericial / The importance of forensic dentistry in human identification processes of mass disaster victims: sugestion of forensic exam protocol

Neste estudo realizou-se uma revisão da literatura à cerca da análise, sob aspecto odontológico, das identificações humanas de vítimas de desastres em massa e da atuação do perito odontolegista no sucesso deste processo. Assim, através do estudo e análises das casuísticas e da literatura, propusemos demonstrar a importância da atuação do odontolegista no processo de identificação humana e estabelecer o protocolo ideal nos exames técnico-periciais em desastres em massa, que o odontolegista deve seguir, visto que tanto na literatura nacional quanto internacional existem diversos protocolos periciais, não havendo um protocolo oficial.

In this study it had done a scientific literature review about odontology analyze of human identification of mass disaster victims and the importance of forensic dentistry acting for identification success. So through the study and analyze of casuistic and literature we propose to show the importance of forensic dentistry acting in human identification process and establish the ideal forensic exam protocol in mass disaster for forensic dentistry. How is seen in national and international literature it is observed that there are a several forensic exam protocol but there is not have an official protocol.