DENTAL IDENTIFICATION OF CARBONISED VICTIMS

Abstract

Mass disasters can result in a considerable number of carbonised victims. In many cases, fire exposure destroys soft
tissue leaving only degraded and brittle skeletal remains.
Aircraft accidents are one of the most striking examples
where human identification through dental analysis
could be the only remaining last resort. In fact teeth, the
most resistant organs of the human body, are also the best
protected by all the soft and hard surrounding tissues,
even when damaged by fire.
This article shows that specific dental identification protocols have to be used depending on the degree of carbonisation. Statistical evaluations demonstrate and confirm
that dental identification has an important role in the
identification of carbonised victims when DNA testing is
not possible.
A systematic integration of medico-legal odontologists
into identification teams seems to be a necessity. It also
meets the recommendations made in the mass disaster
victims identification guide of Interpol