The expertise of the forensic odontologist is mostly used in three major areas: identification, trauma, and bite marks. Identification involves the comparison of dental evidence of unknown origin with known exemplars of similar evidence. Trauma involves the examination, documentation, and evaluation of injuries to the teeth, face, jaws, and other oral structures. Bite-mark analysis consists of the examination, documentation, and comparisons of patterned injuries on skin or other substances caused by the dentition. The variety of cases in which dental evidence can be of use to the investigator is almost limitless. The critical factors in any case are the investigator's recognition and collection of the evidence and its referral for proper evaluation. Identification is the most common use of dentistry in the justice system. It is useful in the identification of burned, fragmented, mutilated, decayed, or otherwise unidentifiable human remains. Dental identification techniques are usually associated with the identification of the dead. However, the same techniques have been used in establishing the identity of unconscious living persons who are not visually recognizable. Legal citations and a bibliography of 17 items are included.