Transcript FORENSIC ODONTOLOGY

FORENSIC ODONTOLOGY
What is a Forensic Odontologist?
• A dentist, who consults in human
identification cases, NOT FULL TIME
• Works with cases of violent crime, child
abuse, elder abuse, missing persons, and
mass disaster scenarios
• Dental evidence can aid victim
identification, suspect identification, and
assist with investigative casework
Four Scenarios which Require
Dental Examination
• Intact body with little or no decomposition found
with no identification – absence of personal
effects or missing persons reports
• Decomposing or skeletonized human remains
• High energy accidents or terrorist acts – severe
trauma, dismemberment and fragmentation
• Homicide cases – possible bitemarks
The Use of Teeth by Forensic
Science
• 20 deciduous teeth, 32
adult teeth
• Transition period from 612 years
• Asian and Native
populations have shovel
shaped incisors
• Age of dental fillings
• Orthodontic work –
usually removal of four
bicuspids
Factors that can Change the
Appearance of Teeth over a Lifetime
• Severe wear caused
by dietary habits
• Dental work, medical
devices, skull
features, tooth
changes
• Faster and cheaper
than DNA
identification
Language of Dental Identification
• Two parts of a tooth:
– The crown that shows in the mouth
– The root that is embedded in the gums or jawbone
• The front teeth have one root, the back teeth can
have as many as four
Human Tooth Morphology
• Front teeth – Incisors – used for cutting
and tearing food
• Canines – eyeteeth, cuspids – longest
rooted, used for tearing and shredding
• Back teeth – Bicuspids – premolars
• Molars – most chewing surfaces
Analysis of Bitemark Evidence
• Is the pattern a bitemark? Could it be
human teeth? Does the area allow
swabbing for DNA? Do the teeth marks
present possess enough information to
identify one person?
• Typical locations of bitemarks – breasts,
abdomen, thighs and genitals, if the bites
are by an animal – extremities and face