Forensic dentistry plays a pivotal role in identifying deceased individuals when visual or other means of identification are not possible, particularly in the aftermath of mass disasters or criminal activities. Accurate and timely identification of the deceased and injured becomes crucial following events like earthquakes, fires, transport accidents, gunshot incidents, floods, tsunamis, bomb blasts, and terrorist attacks. The process of creating a person\'s identity is a formidable task, often relying on prevalent methods such as dental, DNA, and fingerprint analyses. Forensic odontology, a specialized field within dentistry, assumes a significant role in identifying individuals in accidents, civil unrest, natural and mass disasters, and crimes related to genocide. In cases where natural teeth are absent, the marking or labeling of dentures becomes essential for personal identification. Teeth\'s resilience to destruction and decomposition makes dental identification feasible even under extreme conditions. The fundamental principle of forensic dentistry rests on the uniqueness of each individual\'s oral structure, emphasizing that no two mouths are identical, not even in the case of twins. The purpose of this review is to explore the role of forensic dentistry in identifying individuals through various methods such as denture labeling, cheiloscopy, radiographs, bite mark analysis, rugoscopy, salivary signature, age and sex estimation, dental DNA identification, individual characteristics, and denture marking. Based on detailed ante-mortem records from dental specialists, which are compared to postmortem data during investigations, forensic dentistry is a trustworthy technique for identifying deceased individuals and criminals.

Marking dental prosthesis has always been considered an important part of forensic dentistry. Denture identification systems are important not only for patients in health-care facilities, old-age homes, and hospitals but also in medico-legal cases. In India, no standardized method is being followed for labeling of the dentures. This article proposes a technique of denture marking that gives permanent, unique, and global identification to all the Indian nationals using Aadhaar - a universally accepted identity for Indian nationals. The information on the card can be printed on a piece of paper or a plastic card and the Aadhaar card quick read code/number can be easily and cost-effectively used for marking all the newly constructed or existing prosthetic devices.

Forensic odontology is the branch of dentistry which deals with the proper handling, examination, evaluation and presentation of dental findings in the interest of justice. After major disasters and perimortem assaults such as earthquakes, fires, severe head and neck trauma or gross decomposition, accurate and early identification of dead and injured becomes important. In the absence of other records in such cases, identification is based on restorations, missing teeth and prosthetic devices such as partial and complete removable/fixed prosthesis or implant retained devices. This brings out the major role of prosthodontics to investigate the identity of suspects in the criminal cases as well as the deceased human beings in traumatic injuries or in disasters. Denture identification systems are being used as means of postmortem identification of edentulous persons which has evolved from the inclusion of some form of printed label in a denture to more high-tech methods. The provision of implant retained complete lower denture, antemortem, and postmortem radiographs of edentulous persons and correlation of bite marks using special impression techniques provide another potential source of evidence for human identification. Hence, this literature review throws some light on the role played by prosthodontist in forensic odontology.

Denture marking techniques play a vital role in establishing personal identification in suitable clinical and forensic situations. The denture marking techniques are categorized broadly into additive and ablative methods. Additive methods involve embedding or impregnation of markers for establishing personal identity. Ablative methods involve partial removal of the denture surface thereby providing a marking for identification. Engraving and etching methods are the commonly used ablative methods. Ablative methods can be of contact and noncontact subtypes. Laser micro-etching is a precise noncontact ablative denture marking technique that could be used for prostheses-guided personal identification.

BACKGROUND: Forensic odontology is one of the branches of dentistry, which played a very important role in identification of individuals in accident, natural and mass disaster, and civil unrest and in genocide crimes. In the absence of natural teeth, marking or labeling of denture plays a vital role in the personal identification.
BACKGROUND: Various types of marking or labeling methods are reported. However, many are not according to the criteria put forth by American Dental Association or other professional association. Majority of these techniques may be time consuming and expansive, may not be standardized, long lasting and do not permit the incorporation of a large amount of information.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to find out a denture identification technique that should be easy, less expensive, long lasting, and standardized.
METHODS: This article illustrates an inclusion denture casted metal technique of the individual national identification number printed in the patient\'s residence number or iquama or national identity card issued by the ministry of interior, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is used as a denture marker in the lingual surface of mandibular denture.
RESULTS: The label in this method is durable and can withstand high temperature, less chances of deterioration, visible radiographically, and provide all important information about individual that is standardized, reliable, and also accessible from any remote location.
CONCLUSIONS: Hence, the proposed technique is an easy, less expensive, long lasting, radiographically visible, and standardized method of identification.

\"Identification through forensic science is an art of giving the corpse a name A real life detective work that would put even Sherlock Homes to shame.\" Forensic dentistry deals with proper handling and examination of dental evidence and proper evaluation and presentation of dental findings in interest of justice. The Prosthodontists are playing a very important role in forensic dentistry as they are concerned with fabrication of various prosthesis which can serve as an important tool for identification. Identification is essential requirement of any medico-legal investigation because a wrong identity may pose a problem in delivering justice. This article describes the different methods for identification/marking of the complete dentures, removable partial dentures and fixed partial dentures and the importance of denture marking in forensic investigatory purposes. The PubMed, Ebsco and Google search engines were used to gather the articles.

OBJECTIVE: Denture labeling is of vital significance in social and forensic scenario. Numerous published work have attempted to present best method for denture marking, however not all satisfy crucial requirement either in terms of cost or storage of large amount of information. Hence, this paper describes a simple, cheap, and feasible denture marking system using portable Micro Secure Digital (MicroSD) card. These cards are created to store, modify, and view large amount of information with mobile phones, which forms an important part in majority of household in India.
METHODS: After try-in make a depression slightly wider than the size of the MicroSD card on the external lingual flange of the trial mandibular denture. Process the denture together with acrylic wax flap according to manufacturer\'s instructions. The acrylic flap is planned in such a way that it is well-flushed with surrounding areas and can be lifted on one side to access the card. MicroSD card is placed in the denture and flap is closed.
CONCLUSIONS: The proposed method is simple, cheap, and can store large amount of information.

Dental identification assumes a primary role in the identification of remains when postmortem changes, traumatic tissue injury, or lack of a fingerprint record invalidate the use of visual or fingerprint methods. The most common role of the forensic dentist is the identification of deceased individuals. Forensic identification based on assessment of prosthodontic appliances is assuming greater significance, as labeling of dentures and other prosthetic appliance could provide vital clues for patient identification. Various recommendations have been made concerning the importance of denture identification. This paper presents a review of available literature highlighting the fact that how a prosthodontist can play a key role in identification of a deceased individual if trained to do so.

The most common role of the forensic dentist is the identification of deceased individuals. Dental identifications have always played a key role in natural and manmade disaster situations, and in particular, the mass casualties normally associated with aviation disasters. Because of the lack of a comprehensive fingerprint database, dental identification continues to be crucial in the world. An all-acrylic resin appliance such as a full denture or an all-acrylic partial denture (or orthodontic appliance), prior to delivery, could be inscribed with the patient\'s full name on a substrate (paper, metal) and sealed inconspicuously into the surface of a denture by various processes. It has been noted by several authors that in many cases of air disaster where the limbs are completely burnt off, some denture materials survive, especially the posterior part of acrylic dentures and metal-based dentures. Thus, marked dental prostheses (full and partial dentures, mouthguards and removal orthodontic appliances) would lead to rapid identification in the event of accidents and disaster.

The need for denture labeling is important for forensic and social reasons in case patients need to be identified individually. The importance of denture marking has long been acknowledged by the dental profession. Over the years, various denture marking systems have been reported in the literature, but none till date fulfills all the prescribed ADA specifications. A simple, easy, inexpensive procedure for marking accurate identification marks on dentures with a lead foil is described here. The label caring the patient information is incorporated in the acrylic resin during the denture processing.