Receptiveness of Maintaining Dental Records for Forensic and Other Matters

Abstract

Background: Dental records assume a significant part as these might be utilized in identification of dead or missing humans, as proof in court and in criminological dentistry as discoveries of posthumous assessments are contrasted with antemortem dental evidence that have been well-maintained. Aim: To evaluate the awareness regarding significance of dental records and receptiveness of the practitioner toward maintenance in proper pattern. Method: This cross sectional descriptive was carried out between September and December, 2019 at established dental institution of Lahore. A questionnaire containing 16 close ended question was formulated and distributed to all the participants. We seek approval from ethical committee of Lahore Medical & Dental College. Statistics was investigated through SPSS version 20; Pearson correlation coefficient was utilized. Results: A total of 350 dental practitioners took part in this study, statistics revealed that 68.3 % were familiar with importance of maintaining records. Though 96 % dental professionals record the full name, age and gender of patients, 94% explore medical history, 78% record various developmental dental anomalies and 39 % notice decayed, missed or filled teeth; but in general 55.4% percent maintain the patient-related correspondence. Amongst them 33.5% of dental professionals preserve the dental file, 40% percent conserve the radiographs, 29% photographs of the patients, and just 10% of the dentists preserve the casts. Duration of conserving dental records found inconstant; 40% sustain all the patient-related correspondence for a month or less, 21.20 % for a half year, 18.4 % for a year, 6.4% as long as 5 years and just 1 % for around 10 years. Conclusion: Information and receptiveness of maintaining records among the dental professionals of Lahore is inadequate, improvement can be accomplished by education and training. Keywords: dental records, identification, forensic dentistry, patient chart