Forensic and legal issues in oral diagnosis.

The forensic odontologist has assumed a more visible role in the last decade, having been called upon repeatedly to assist both law enforcement agencies and the judicial system. It has become quite common for dentists to establish the identity of unknown bodies; to quickly and positively identify the victims of mass disasters such as airliner crashes, floods, and earthquakes; as well as to provide testimony in court concerning bite marks or other matters that require dental expertise. Litigation directed at dental defendants for failure to diagnose, properly treat, or obtain valid consent from plaintiff patients is also on the rise. In each of these fields, dentists who have been specially trained in or who have devoted their practices to the dental diagnostic sciences have been looked to widely as experts. This article discusses in detail these areas and others that affect the dental diagnostician.