Introduction

After mass fatalities such as the events of September 11, 2001, Hurricane Katrina, and the Oklahoma City Bombings, identification of individuals through dental records has become increasingly necessary. Forensic dentistry is one mechanism to aid in the identification of unknown victims of mass casualty and criminal incidents. Dental forensics and forensic odontology are terms used interchangeably and they are described as the management, examination, evaluation and presentation of dental evidence in criminal or civil proceedings, in the interest of justice.¹ There is a vast history of various documented ways that dental evidence and records have been utilized to identify victims or convict murderers.