Reconciliation
Definition
The formal process of comparing an AM record against a PM record to determine whether they represent the same individual. A confirmed match requires concordant features and no unexplained discordancies.
- Context
- Dental identification, DVI
- Compares
- Antemortem (AM) and postmortem (PM) records
- Match requirement
- Concordant features, no unexplained discordancy
- Outcome
- Identification determination
Common questions
What counts as an unexplained discordancy that would block a confirmed dental match?+
A discordancy is a feature present in one record but not the other, such as a restoration in the AM chart missing from the PM examination, that cannot be accounted for by treatment occurring after the AM record was made or by limitations in either examination.
Can reconciliation still support identification if some AM records are incomplete or old?+
Yes, provided the available concordant features are sufficiently distinctive and no discordancies remain unexplained; the strength of the conclusion scales with the quality and specificity of the matching features rather than requiring a perfect, exhaustive record.
Related terms
- Ante-Mortem (AM) Record
- Any dental documentation from the person's life: radiographs, clinical charts, study models, photographs, and prosthetic records. These form the known standard against...
- Calcification Temperature Threshold
- The temperature at which dental enamel begins to structurally degrade. Enamel sustains fires up to approximately 200°C with minimal change; above 600-800°C...
- DVI (Disaster Victim Identification)
- The systematic multi-agency process for identifying victims of mass-casualty events, governed by the INTERPOL DVI Guide 2018 revision. Organises work into five...
- Post-Mortem (PM) Record
- The dental charting, radiographs, and descriptive notes taken from recovered human remains at the mortuary. The data set to be matched to...
- Primary Identification Method
- A method accepted by INTERPOL and most national standards as sufficient on its own to confirm identity: fingerprints, dental comparison, or DNA....