Computerised dental charting of Malaysian armed forces personnel for dental practice management and forensic dental identification

Forensic dental identification has been acknowledged as the single most useful method and the most consistently reliable means for the identification of both living persons and human remains. Since the availability, quality and accuracy of dental records in the Malaysian Armed Forces is currently inadequate, this study has explored the potential role of computers in dentistry with particular emphasis on their application in forensic situations for the Malaysian Armed Forces. The approach to this problem has involved the design of a software programme to integrate a dental clinical management system and the requirements of the forensic dental identification process within the Malaysian Armed Forces. The role of the software programme will therefore include provision of Departmental Management Records, Dental Clinical Records and Utilities (correspondence, statistical analysis and inventory systems) and a system for forensic dental identification. This former function is designed to be complimentary to the Dental Clinic Management System. The Forensic Dental Identification System is designed to retrieve ante-mortem dental data and effect comparisons with post-mortem dental findings for the purpose of forensic dental identification in both routine cases and mass disaster situations. The current status of dental clinic management systems and computer assisted forensic dental identification programmes were reviewed. This was followed by the development of relevant computer software which can readily be used for the computerisation of dental records within the Malaysian Armed Forces and for forensic identification when required. Finally, suggestions are made for future computer applications in the Malaysian Armed Forces Dental Services.Thesis (MDS) -- University of Adelaide, Dept. of Dentistry, 199