FORENSIC ODONTOLOGY
Forensic Odontology is the application of dentistry in assistance to the legal system for the investigation by law enforcement agencies for both civil or criminal cases of all ages, either on a local or global scale. This specialty takes the role through thorough and meticulous examinations, documentation, analyses and careful interpretations (expert opinion) of dental evidence found in any cases referred from enforcement agencies. If necessary, this evidence will then be presented in court. The type of cases seen encompass both post mortem (the dead) and clinical cases involving living individuals of various age groups. This service receives internal referrals from the Department of Forensic Medicine and One Stop Crisis Centre (OSCC) under the Emergency and Trauma Department; as well as external referrals from various government agencies, such as Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM), Immigration Department of Malaysia, Prisons Department of Malaysia, court, and Department of Social Welfare (JKM).
The primary job scope of the Forensic Odontology services comprising the followings:
- Identification of unknown human remains: single death or mass disasters (through Disaster Victim Identification operations, DVI). The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) recognises teeth as one of the primary identifiers in human identification.
- Post mortem profiling of unknown bodies through teeth.
- Age estimation procedure of living persons to assess an individual’s legal status as they may be an undocumented or unregistered person under investigation or are individuals associated with late registration of birth certificates.
- Non-accidental injuries in children (maxillofacial and bitemarks).
- Management of bite marks on humans or on inanimate objects.
- Sexual and physical assault in relation to the oral and maxillofacial region, especially oral sexual assault cases under the One Stop Crisis Centre (OSCC).
- Dental anthropology and comparative dental anatomy.
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At present, the Forensic Odontology Services are divided into the following zones, including the allocation of duties to any location within the country and externally, if required:
- Central Zone - Kuala Lumpur Hospital delivers service for South of Perak, Selangor, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and Johor States
- Northern Zone - Penang General Hospital delivers service for North of Perak, Pulau Pinang, Kedah and Perlis States
- East Coast Zone - Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital, Kuantan delivers service for Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan States
- Sarawak - Sarawak General Hospital delivers service for Sarawak States.
- Sabah - Queen Elizabeth Hospital delivers service for Sabah State and the Federal Territory of Labuan.
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