title: Forensic odontological examinations of alleged torture victims at the University of Copenhagen 1997-2011.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clinical forensic examinations of alleged torture victims have been performed by forensic pathologists at the University of Copenhagen since 1995. In 13.2%/33 of these cases the examinations were supplemented by a forensic odontological clinical examination. In this study the forensic odontological cases from the years 1997-2011 are presented and discussed.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study includes 33 reports from alleged torture victims (4 females, 29 males) who have been examined by a forensic odontologist at the Copenhagen School of Dentistry in the years 1997-2011.The material available consisted of copies of medical forensic reports and the forensic odontological reports including x-rays. BACKGROUND data, anamnestic data and results of the forensic odontological clinical examinations were registered as well as the conclusion of the clinical examinations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The forensic odontological clinical examinations were complicated by the presence of unspecific injuries and various degrees of active oral pathology. In 27 of the cases it was concluded that the findings were consistent with the alleged torture, in six of the cases the findings were concluded to be highly consistent with the alleged torture.
authors.affiliation: University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Forensic Medicine, Section of Forensic Pathology; Frederik V's Vej 11, 2100 Copenhagen.
authors.forename: Sára O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Arge
authors.forename: Steen Holger
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lynnerup
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003718:Denmark; D003945:Diagnosis, Oral / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D009055:Mouth / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography; D012036:Refugees; D018677:Tooth Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D014104:Torture