405

Future of

Forensic

Dentistry

david r. s enn
paul G. stimson

Contents

18.1 A Look to the Past 4 05
18.2 Research and Technology 406
18.3 Certifying Organizations and Certification 407
18.4 The Way Forward 409
References 410

18.1 A Look to the Past

If you want to understand the causes that existed in the past, look at the

results as they are manifested in the present. And if you want to understand

what results will be manifested in the future, look at the causes that exist in

the present.

—Buddhist aphorism in Dockett et al.^1

Forensic dentistry’s history reveals a checkered past featuring logical scien-
tific and professional activities, less scientific and sometimes bizarre activity,
and forthright abuse of scientific principles. The growth from ancient, old,
and recent history into its current twenty-first century status has not been
uniform. Similar to what is seen in human growth there have been great
spurts and periods of relative indolence. The last thirty years has not been
one of the quiet periods.
During this period the role of the forensic odontologist has transformed
from one primarily involving occasional dental identifications in single
and multiple fatalities into a more varied role. Forensic odontologists have
become valuable members of teams involved in scientific investigations.
Forensic dentists today routinely perform dental identifications, estimate age
from oral and dental structures, analyze and compare patterned injuries or

18