The Application of the Forensic Dental Identification to Unidentified Individual Remains in Korea

Abstract

The cases of unidentified individual remains submitted to Forensic dentistry section in National Institute of Scientific Investigation, Korea were analyzed to study the application of forensic dental identification into individual identification in the period 2002-2005. The identification cases of unidentified remains were 405 out of 493, which accounted about 82% of whole cases. The incidence of submission of skeletons at least including the skull was increased from 58% in 2002 to 80% in 2005. The numbers of cases for the full examinations were 4 times more than that for age estimation in 2005. Twenty-four cases were submitted for skull to photographic superimposition and 15 out of 24 cases were examined, and the other 9 cases were examined by DNA analysis only. The submitted cases for dental comparison were 23 cases, 9 cases were positively identified, 4 cases were possible, 7 cases were excluded, and 3 cases ended up with insufficient evidences. The proportion of positive identification by dental methods was increased gradually from 9% in 2002 to 46% in 2005. Forensic dental identification has become important and useful because the availability of dental records and radiographs has been increasing. Compared to DNA analysis, forensic dental identification has several advantages such as no needs for high cost equipments and low expenses. And the interpretation of results is straightforward and speedy. These advantages are based on using primary their own dental records of the individuals rather than secondary DNA reference samples from family members. The application of the forensic dental identification to unidentified individual remains will be increased because the dental comparison can complement the limitation of DNA analysis and skull to photographic superimposition in many cases. In order to obtain positive identifications of unidentified remains, a close collaboration between the police and forensic scientists is important. The systemic approach including legislation to preserve dental records of unidentified remains and missing persons for the identification of unidentified remains should be needed.