Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41153223›Full record

ReviewDiagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)2025

Forensic Odontology in the Digital Era: A Narrative Review of Current Methods and Emerging Trends.

Carmen Corina Radu, Timur Hogea, Cosmin Carașca, Casandra-Maria Radu

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Carmen Corina RaduDepartment of Forensic Medicine, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 38 Gheorghe Marinescu Street, 540139 Targu Mures, Romania.
Timur HogeaDepartment of Forensic Medicine, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 38 Gheorghe Marinescu Street, 540139 Targu Mures, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-6575-4925
Cosmin CarașcaDepartment of Forensic Medicine, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 38 Gheorghe Marinescu Street, 540139 Targu Mures, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-3474-4011
Casandra-Maria RaduDoctoral School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Oradea, 1 University Street, 410087 Oradea, Romania.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesForensic dental determination plays a central role in human identification, age estimation, and trauma analysis in medico-legal contexts. Traditional approaches-including clinical examination, odontometric analysis, and radiographic comparison-remain essential but are constrained by examiner subjectivity, population variability, and reduced applicability in fragmented or degraded remains. Recent advances in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), three-dimensional surface scanning, intraoral imaging, and artificial intelligence (AI) offer promising opportunities to enhance accuracy, reproducibility, and integration with multidisciplinary forensic evidence. The aim of this review is to synthesize conventional and emerging approaches in forensic odontology, critically evaluate their strengths and limitations, and highlight areas requiring validation.

methodsA structured literature search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for studies published between 2015 and 2025. Search terms combined forensic odontology, dental identification, CBCT, 3D scanning, intraoral imaging, and AI methodologies. From 108 records identified, 81 peer-reviewed articles met eligibility criteria and were included for analysis.

resultsDigital methods such as CBCT, 3D scanning, and intraoral imaging demonstrated improved diagnostic consistency compared with conventional techniques. AI-driven tools-including automated age and sex estimation, bite mark analysis, and restorative pattern recognition-showed potential to enhance objectivity and efficiency, particularly in disaster victim identification. Persistent challenges include methodological heterogeneity, limited dataset diversity, ethical concerns, and issues of legal admissibility.

conclusionsDigital and AI-based approaches should complement, not replace, the expertise of forensic odontologists. Standardization, validation across diverse populations, ethical safeguards, and supportive legal frameworks are necessary to ensure global reliability and medico-legal applicability.

Indexed as

age estimationartificial intelligencebite mark analysisdental identificationforensic odontologyhuman identificationintraoral scanningmachine learning

Identifiers

PMID41153223
PMCPMC12563642

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.