Advances in histological profiling of hard tissue injuries for forensic identification: A narrative review

Background: Injuries to hard tissues, including teeth and maxillofacial bones, are essential for forensic identification, trauma assessment, and determination of the postmortem interval. Histological analysis of dental and skeletal tissues yields significant insights owing to their resilience and resistance to postmortem deterioration.

Objective: The objective of this narrative review is to critically synthesize existing data on histological, radiological, and morphological changes in hard tissue injuries, with a particular emphasis on dental trauma and its forensic implications.

Methods: A thorough examination of the literature pertaining to forensic odontology, anthropology, and pathology was conducted, concentrating on maxillofacial trauma patterns, thermal modifications of teeth, and histomorphological irregularities in dental pulp pertinent to trauma timing and postmortem interval assessment.

Results: The studies demonstrate that hard tissues exhibit unique injury patterns that aid in distinguishing between antemortem, perimortem, and postmortem trauma. Histological changes in tooth pulp, marked by progressive vacuolization and cellular degeneration, show potential as reliable indicators for determining postmortem interval. Thermal exposure induces noticeable macroscopic, radiographic, and microscopic changes in dental tissues that can aid in forensic identification after fire-related events.

Conclusion: This review highlights the forensic importance of histological examination of hard tissue injuries and demonstrates the necessity of interdisciplinary collaboration among forensic odontologists, anthropologists, and pathologists. While current data supports the forensic utility of these procedures, further standardized and quantitative research is required to validate their regular application.