Work

Evidentiary value of tooth presence/absence patterns for human identification

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Human identification through comparison of dental records is a well-established and widely accepted forensic method, particularly valuable in mass casualty incidents. While restorative treatments often provide strong points of comparison, their absence limits evidentiary value and increases reliance on morphological features. Patterns of tooth presence and absence can serve as comparative data; however, the lack of large-scale reference databases restricts the application of statistical probability to these patterns. This study examined dental data from 1343 deceased individuals from historic casework to assess the frequency of tooth presence/absence patterns. The findings showed that, although certain patterns occurred repeatedly, a substantial proportion of individuals displayed unique combinations not observed elsewhere in the sample. The analysis also demonstrated relationships between missing teeth and confirmed the correlation between overall tooth count and age. These findings support the utility of tooth presence/absence patterns as a comparative feature in forensic identification. Nonetheless, population differences and sample size constraints highlight the need for expanded research to establish broader statistical validity.

Source: Forensic Science International

DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112744

Authors: Denice Higgins, Adam B. Rohrlach

Institutions: The University of Adelaide, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology

Language: English

Topic: Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies

Subfield: Archeology

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,580