Abstract

SERRA, Mônica da Costa; HERRERA, Lara Maria  and  FERNANDES, Clemente Maia S.. Importance of the correct confection of the dental records for human identification. Case report. Rev. Assoc. Paul. Cir. Dent. [online]. 2012, vol.66, n.2, pp. 100-104. ISSN 0004-5276.

The clinical records correspond to a set of documents where all information of the patient is stored. When properly confectioned and filed by the dentist, it may serve as a tool for success in dental expertise. The aim of this paper is to present the importance of proper confection of dental records in human identification by means the presentation of a case of identification, occurred in a São Paulo state city. The notes present in the dental records of the alleged victim were very poor, even with a contradiction. However, having endodontic treatment been performed, the comparative analysis between the radiographs of the skull of the victim (postmortem) and the endodontic treatment of tooth 22 (antemortem) permitted to observe total coincidence between the details of such treatment, and anatomical features present in other dental elements. These important parameters of comparison indicated that the body was of the suspect and, due to the number of coincidences, it could not belong to another individual. Nevertheless, the clinical documentation provided was deficient, and presented contradictory data. Because of its fundamental importance for human identification, it is essential that dental professionals take the necessary care to ensure its proper confection and custody, seeking to make the clinical records also an efficient instrument of consultation in identification cases.

Keywords : forensic anthropology; forensic dentistry; clinical record; radiography, dental.