Incisive Foramen as a Tool for Forensic Identification Using Dental Anatomy: A Comprehensive Review

Human remains analysis, mass disaster victim identification, and criminal investigations all heavily rely on forensic identification. Because of its distinct form and stability after death, the incisive foramen has become one of the most important anatomical landmarks in dental forensic research. By examining its anatomical structure, diversity, and use in forensic odontology, this paper thoroughly investigates the function of the incisive foramen in forensic identification. This study summarizes current knowledge and explores potential avenues for future research to improve forensic identification techniques using a number of academic articles.

Forensic Odontology, Incisive Foramen

1. THUNYACHAROEN, S.; IAMAROON, A. & MAHAKKANUKRAUH, P. Morphometric study of incisive, greater and lesser palatine foramina: A novel point of maxillary nerve block in a Thai population. Int. J. Morphol., 39(4):994-1000, 2021. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Ata-Ali, J., & Ata-Ali, F. (2014). Forensic dentistry in human identification: A review of the literature. Journal of clinical and experimental dentistry, 6(2), e162–e167. https://doi.org/10.4317/jced.51387 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Emam ِN. M. (2024). Role of Forensic Odontology in Identification of Persons: A Review Article. Cureus, 16(3), e56570. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.56570 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. He, P., Caughey, J., Tubbs, R. S., & Iwanaga, J. (2021). Microsurgical Anatomy of the Incisive Canals. The Kurume Medical Journal, 68(2), 115-119. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Sarna, K., Estreed, M. A., Sonigra, K. J., Amuti, T., Opondo, F., Kamau, M., & Ngeow, W. C. (2023). Anatomical Patterns of the Nasopalatine Canal and Incisive Foramen in an African Setting: A Cross-Sectional Study. Craniomaxillofacial trauma & reconstruction, 16(3), 222–233. https://doi.org/10.1177/19433875221100943 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Mudgal P, Rock P, Al Kabbani A, et al. Incisive foramen. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 06 Apr 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-28248 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Brennan, P. A., Mahadevan, V., & Evans, B. T. (Eds.). (2015). Clinical head and neck anatomy for surgeons. CRC Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Iamandoiu, A. V., Mureşan, A. N., & Rusu, M. C. (2022). Detailed Morphology of the Incisive or Nasopalatine Canal. Anatomia, 1(1), 75-85. https://doi.org/10.3390/anatomia1010008 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Costa, E. D., de Oliveira Reis, L., Gaêta-Araujo, H., Martins, L. A. C., Oliveira-Santos, C., & Freitas, D. Q. (2021). Comparison of distance of upper central incisor root and incisive canal in different sagittal and vertical skeletal patterns and sex: A retrospective CBCT study. International orthodontics, 19(3), 462–470. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ortho.2021.07.001 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Pinto, P. H. V., Ferraz, M. Â. A. L., de Sousa Júnior, S. C., de Pinho Mendes, J., Costa, A. L. F., de Castro Lopes, S. L. P., & Pinto, A. S. B. (2017). Assessment of the opening diameter of the incisive foramen as a parameter for gender and age estimation. Brazilian Dental Science, 20(4), 106-114. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Jayakrishnan, J. M., Reddy, J., & Vinod Kumar, R. B. (2021). Role of forensic odontology and anthropology in the identification of human remains. Journal of oral and maxillofacial pathology : JOMFP, 25(3), 543–547. https://doi.org/10.4103/jomfp.jomfp_81_21 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Mohammed, F., Fairozekhan, A. T., Bhat, S., & Menezes, R. G. (2022). Forensic Odontology. StatPearls. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Krishan K, Kanchan T, Garg A. Dental Evidence in Forensic Identification – An Overview, Methodology and Present Status . Open Dentistry J, 2015; 9: . http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1874210601509010250 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Lake, S., Iwanaga, J., Kikuta, S., Oskouian, R. J., Loukas, M., & Tubbs, R. S. (2018). The Incisive Canal: A Comprehensive Review. Cureus, 10(7), e3069. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.3069 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Thakur AR, Burde K, Guttal K, Naikmasur VG. Anatomy and morphology of the nasopalatine canal using cone-beam computed tomography. Imaging Sci Dent. 2013 Dec;43(4):273-281. https://doi.org/10.5624/isd.2013.43.4.273 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Linjawi, AI; Othman, MA; Dirham, AA; Ghoneim, SH; Aljohani, SR; Dause, RR; Marghalani, HYA. Morphological evaluation of the incisive canal with reference to gender and age: A cone-beam computed tomography study. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice 24(11):p 1596-1601, November 2021. | DOI: 10.4103/njcp.njcp_40_21 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Alhumaidi, A. M., Al Moaleem, M. M., Gadah, T. S., Alahmari, N. M., Al Makramani, B. M., Mattoo, K., & Homeida, H. E. (2025). Nasopalatine canal morphology: CBCT review & nomenclature proposal. Folia Morphologica. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Juodzbalys G, Wang HL, Sabalys G. Anatomy of Mandibular Vital Structures. Part II: Mandibular Incisive Canal, Mental Foramen and Associated Neurovascular Bundles in Relation with Dental Implantology. J Oral Maxillofac Res. 2010 Apr 1;1(1):e3. doi:10.5037/jomr.2010.1103. PubMed PMID: 24421959; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3886037. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Senol, Deniz; Secgin, Yusuf1; Harmandaoglu, Oguzhan2; Kaya, Seren3; Duman, Suayip Burak4; Oner, Zülal5. Gender Prediction Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Measurements from Foramen Incisivum: Application of Machine Learning Algorithms and Artificial Neural Networks. Journal of the Anatomical Society of India 73(2):p 152-159, Apr–Jun 2024. | DOI: 10.4103/jasi.jasi_129_23 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Dias, P. E., Miranda, G. E., Beaini, T. L., & Melani, R. F. (2016). Practical Application of Anatomy of the Oral Cavity in Forensic Facial Reconstruction. PloS one, 11(9), e0162732. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0162732 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Alotaibi, M. K., Alansari, M. A., Alqahtani, J. M., Alduhaymi, A. A., Assari, A., & Baseer, M. A. (2018). Evaluation of Greater Palatine Foramen and Incisive Canal Foramen among Saudi Patients using Cone Beam Computed Tomography Scans. Journal of Oral Health & Community Dentistry, 12(2). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Migrant Health in Morocco: Between Law and Reality
• CaknaMinda: An Educator-Centred Mobile App for Early Screening of Mental Health and Schizophrenia Risks
• Health System and Nursing Strategies for Enhancing Male Participation in Family Planning: Evidence from Tema General Hospital, Ghana.
• From Īśvara-Praṇidhāna to Parā-Bhakti: Convergent Paths of Aṣṭāṅga Yoga and Bhakti Yoga
• Evidence-Based Psycho-Oncological Interventions: A Multimodal Approach to Supportive Care