A retrospective documentary analysis of forensic dental cases over the past 30 years in Scotland

Over the years forensic odontology has evolved from using old outdated methods to the techniques that are used today which have resulted from the advances in medical science. This study is a retrospective documentary analysis of 162 forensic dental cases from the late 1960s to early 2000s in Scotland. The main objective was to collect, catalogue and categorise cases of six Scottish forensic odontologists into case types, based on the nature of each case and respective methodologies employed in the past, and place them into a forensic dental archive for historic and future academic reference. This investigative study revealed that: there was an optimal balance between reliance on technology and peer reviewed published literature available at the time. Investigators left no stone unturned for research, and the forensic dentists adopted a conservative approach in court proceedings.