Forensic dental examinations carried out in a large city in northeastern Brazil

Abstract

The objective of the present study is to analyze all of the forensic dental examinations carried out by the Forensic Investigation Division of the State of Ceará, in Fortaleza, in 2009, and their objectives, bearing in mind that forensic dentistry consists of all the procedures that aim to provide clarification to the Courts of Law with the objective of filling the gapsin specific knowledge by the pertinent authorities in the most diverse areas of human knowledge and in addition, that these criminal investigations can be performed by dental surgeons in accordance with Article 6 of Law 5,081 of August 24, 1966, which regulates the practice of Dentistry in Brazil. Methods The study was document-based with an observational and descriptive outline having been carried out using data collected based on the analysis of the case records of the subjects examined, made available in spreadsheet format by the Information Technology Office at the Ceará State Forensic Investigation Department, concealing data that might enable the identification of the subjects under examination. Results In accordance with the information supplied by the institution, 600 exams were carried out in 2009 in the Forensic Dentistry Center, distributed as follows: 268 (44.67%) age verification examinations, 23 (3.83%) identification examinations and 309 (51.5%) diagnostic investigations of bodily injury. Conclusion The study vies to publicize the activity of the forensic dentist, reinforcing his/her indispensability in those agencies designed to carry out Criminal investigations.