Javiera Neculqueo-Millán, Mogakolodi Boikanyo, Gabriel M Fonseca
{"title":"Forensic odontology in the search of dental evidence at the scene of events with incinerated victims: a scoping review.","authors":"Javiera Neculqueo-Millán, Mogakolodi Boikanyo, Gabriel M Fonseca","doi":"10.1007/s12024-025-00970-4","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The scene of events involving incinerated victims presents significant challenges for forensic teams. Dental evidence has been reported as highly valuable to the identification process. However, given its commingling with debris and its fragility in these contexts, the participation of a forensic odontologist (FO) at the scene has been recommended to enhance the identification, recovery, conservation, and transport of this evidence. We present a scoping review of case reports in which the FOs have actively participated at the scene, facilitating or enhancing the identification of human remains in these contexts. The leadership of Norway and Australia has demonstrated that the inclusion of FOs has been deemed crucial to prevent the loss of dental evidence in this type of scene; however, it is essential that FOs possess the appropriate training and preparation for these tasks. The implementation of appropriate protocols, including wrapping and protection of the victim's head and the utilization of stabilization agents for the remains to ensure protected transport to the mortuary, has also been recommended. Nevertheless, these best practices do not appear to be widespread and are likely dependent on circumstances specific to each country; therefore, it has been suggested, at minimum, that first responders should be trained in these skills.</p>","PeriodicalId":12449,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-025-00970-4","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"MEDICINE, LEGAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The scene of events involving incinerated victims presents significant challenges for forensic teams. Dental evidence has been reported as highly valuable to the identification process. However, given its commingling with debris and its fragility in these contexts, the participation of a forensic odontologist (FO) at the scene has been recommended to enhance the identification, recovery, conservation, and transport of this evidence. We present a scoping review of case reports in which the FOs have actively participated at the scene, facilitating or enhancing the identification of human remains in these contexts. The leadership of Norway and Australia has demonstrated that the inclusion of FOs has been deemed crucial to prevent the loss of dental evidence in this type of scene; however, it is essential that FOs possess the appropriate training and preparation for these tasks. The implementation of appropriate protocols, including wrapping and protection of the victim's head and the utilization of stabilization agents for the remains to ensure protected transport to the mortuary, has also been recommended. Nevertheless, these best practices do not appear to be widespread and are likely dependent on circumstances specific to each country; therefore, it has been suggested, at minimum, that first responders should be trained in these skills.
期刊介绍:
Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology encompasses all aspects of modern day forensics, equally applying to children or adults, either living or the deceased. This includes forensic science, medicine, nursing, and pathology, as well as toxicology, human identification, mass disasters/mass war graves, profiling, imaging, policing, wound assessment, sexual assault, anthropology, archeology, forensic search, entomology, botany, biology, veterinary pathology, and DNA. Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology presents a balance of forensic research and reviews from around the world to reflect modern advances through peer-reviewed papers, short communications, meeting proceedings and case reports.