Role of forensic odontology in the world's major mass disasters: facts and figures.

UNLABELLED: Forensic identification of the victims in mass disasters is essential, not only for humanitarian reasons, but also for civil or criminal investigative need. The number of victims identified with the help of forensic odontology in various mass disasters in the world has been analysed and discussed. The result depicts the necessity of keeping proper dental records at institutional and individual level. Thus the use of forensic odontology in a series of mass disasters has been explored. The most common aspect of forensic odontology that a general practitioner is likely to encounter is the supply of ante-mortem records to aid in human identification.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The need for proper dental record-keeping by general dental practitioners is highlighted by discussing the role of forensic odontology in some of the world's major mass disasters.