DENT1612 - Forensics

Forensic Dentistry

the area of dentistry that encompasses concepts and practices related to
oral and maxillofacial structures in the context of the legal or judicial system

Antemortem

Before death

Postmortem

After death

A breakdown of blood components within a tooth can cause
_________ or make the appear pink in colour.

Hemolysis

DNA can be recovered from ________ and _______ tissues.

Periodontal & pulpal

Fracture of what bone is often associated with strangulation?

Hyoid

A mass fatality is?

One or more death than local resources can manage with external assistance

An open disaster means

an unknown number of people are involved with unknown identities.

An closed disaster means

number of people involved, and their names are known (such as an airplane crash)

Who will decide what criteria are acceptable for identification at a mass fatality?

Medical examiner/coroner

How many forensic dentists usually performs an exam and verifies the information?

Two

Criminal litigation

a legal contest by judicial process.

Identification

providing a proof of identity for human remains and is usually
done in morgues, in the offices of medical examiners or coroners, or in funeral homes.

Where may bite mark evidence be collected?

Hospitals or law enforcement facilities

In mass disasters dental auxiliaries can assist with

Charts, record keeping & x-rays

Mass disasters are

Natural or human-related events — large number of death in a localized area

Teeth can be used in identifying unknown persons if

Accurate ante mortem records are available

Victims of drowning are often

Distorted — preventing visual identification

What teeth can be protected and usually stay intact by the cheeks in a burned victim

Posterior

How are missing teeth noted that were apparently present before death?

missing post mortem

__________ & _________ x-rays are made for comparison with ante mortem films?

Periapical & bitewing

Postmortem dental section members work in groups of

three

The roles of the identification team

One dentist examines remains, another dentist or auxiliary records, and the other dentist confirms the data

Bite marks are in a category described as

Pattern injuries

Pattern injuries can results from

Teeth, belt, buckles, other blunt objects

Wound pattern impressions should be made with a

Resilient dental impression material (vinyl polysiloxane)

What kind of camera is needed in documentation of bite marks?

35mm with a macro lens

Every patient record in a dental practice should be _________.

Legible and accurate

Bodies that are burned beyond visual recognition may have most of the dentition intact.

True

The ———— of decomposed bodies can be determined by the dentition.

Age, sex, race

Antemortem and postmortem charts or forms are similar to allow for ease in

comparison

__________ dental records frequently make the task of interpreting submitted records very difficult.

Illegible

Bite and tooth mark evidence is not recognized by our courts.

False

Child abuse occurs at all _________ levels.

Education, economic, social