Dentomaxillary anthropology as a method of forensic identification

Abstract

The number of disappeared individuals has increased notably in our country. It is well known that in isolated places within the Mexican Republic there are illegal sites for the deposit of unidentified bodies, a situation that represents a real challenge for forensic experts. Given the properties of perpetuity, hardness and resistance that characterize teeth and bones, it is possible to use them to guide investigations that aim to identify each of the victims found in those places. In addition to teeth, the skeletal elements that make up the skull and face can guide very accurately about the approximate age of the individual, the gender and the ethnic group to which it belongs. The objective of this article is to highlight the relevance that teeth and the cranial facial complex have for human identification. Key words: Dental anthropology, Forensic anthropology, Human identification, Forensic dentistry