Gabriel Mihalache, Narcis Vîlceanu, Adrian Judea, Mihaela Cristina Șomlea, Paula Marian, Bianca Hanganu, Andreea Alexandra Hleșcu, Irina Smaranda Manoilescu, Bogdan Adrian Buhaș
ABSTRACT
Traumatic dental injuries are common in dental pathology and have great importance in forensic practice in assessing the gravity of trauma and traumatic mechanism which further allow the legal framing of the criminal offences that caused them. The dentist has the responsibility to provide an accurate and detailed description of these injuries and should effectively collaborate with the forensic pathologist to elucidate the possible cause of traumatic dental injuries. Material and method: The authors analyze the current indicative scale used in forensic practice for assessing the gravity of traumatic injuries. Results and discussions: In the section dedicated to dental injuries, the scale list the traumatic dental injuries and the number of days of medical care needed for healing for each of them, this being the forensic criterion for assessing the gravity of the traumatic injuries. The authors also analyze the way in which the traumatic dental injuries observed in a corpse allow the establishment of the traumatic mechanism and the contribution of these injuries to death. Conclusions: The correct assessment of the traumatic dental injuries and of these lesions corresponding description taken by the dentist is a key element in the correct quantification of the gravity of the traumatic dental injuries and establishing of relevant conclusions in forensic expertise. In many cases where dental injuries are identified, the collaboration between the forensic pathologist and the dentist is essential for the correct assessment of the injuries and of the traumatic mechanism.