Forensic Odontology

Odontology

The study of the anatomy and growth of teeth and diseases associated with the teeth and gums.

Forensic Odontology

The examination of dental evidence in the criminal justice

Enamel

Teeth are made of enamel; which is the hardest tissue in the human body

Enamel, and its hardness, is the reason why teeth can withstand high stressors like extremely high temperature, water desiccation or fire

Anatomy of Teeth

Purpose of teeth is to mechanically grind teeth into smaller pieces to aid in digestion.

Teeth are contained within the bones of the upper jaw and lower jaw.

A tooth has 3 parts:

• crown - tooth above the gumline

• neck - where crown and tooth meet at the gumline

• root - tooth embedded below the gumlines

Dentin

• connective tissue which has calcified

• gives teeth their shape

Pulp

• connective tissue which has nerves and blood vessels

• DNA can be harvested for matching purposes

Enamel

• protective layer on the crown which protects dentin

Cementum

• covers dentin in the root where it attaches to the bone of the jaw

Deciduous Teeth

Primary teeth sprout form milk buds and are temporary

Humans have 20 deciduous (baby) teeth

Teeth begin to appear at 6 months of age, all should have emerged by age 3

Between ages 7-21 years every deciduous tooth should have been replaced with permanent (adult) teeth

Permanent Teeth

The adult, or second set, of permanent teeth

• there are approximately 32 teeth in an adults mouth

4 types of permanent teeth:

• molars

• premolars

• canine

• incisors

Characteristics from Teeth

Age:

• younger than 25 = more accurate age

• over 25 teeth don’t change = less accurate

Gender:

• cannot be used to determine gender

Race/Ethnicity:

• cannot be used to determine race/ethnicity

Antemortem Records

Taken during life

Postmortem Records

Recorded after death

Bite Marks

Marks left behind by teeth

Commonly found in family violence assaults, sexual assaults and child abuse cases

Bite marks on the arms and hands can be defensive wounds