410 Forensic dentistry“mixed bag.” Forensic odontologists have unquestionably provided valuable
services to forensic science, the justice system, and the society they collec-
tively serve. Many individuals and families have expressed their gratitude to
forensic dentists who have helped with difficult problems at difficult times.
However, forensic odontologists cannot deny that there have been mistakes.
They cannot disregard that those mistakes have severely and negatively
impacted fellow humans’ lives. The wrongful conviction of a person for any
crime not only deprives the innocent person of freedom or life but also leaves
the actual criminal free to commit similar or worse mayhem—again. Giving
an expert opinion that connects a person in a cause-effect relationship to
criminal activity is a tremendous responsibility that all forensic odontolo-
gists must consider very seriously.
The challenge to forensic odontologists is to embrace the positive accom-
plishments of the past, study and understand the errors that have occurred, and
make the needed changes now, in the present, to optimize the future of forensic
dentistry. Those changes include ensuring that scientific research is encour-
aged, supported, and performed to substantiate the procedures promoted
and approved by forensic dentists and forensic odontology organizations. The
forensic odontology certifying organizations must ascertain that their policies
and procedures promote and ensure the highest levels of proficiency possible.
If these difficult but necessary steps are taken, the future of forensic den-
tistry should remain deservedly bright. With the concerted effort of those
involved in the forensic sciences and forensic odontology, the editors are con-
fident in the bright future of forensic odontology. We welcome you to join us
in this confidence.
References- Dockett, K.H., G.R. Dudley-Grant, and C.P. Bankart. 2003. Psychology and
Buddhism: From individual to global community, xv. International and Cultural
Psychology Series. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers. - American Board of Forensic Odontology. 2008. Diplomates reference manual.
http://www.abfo.org