Forensic Odontology Flashcards

Forensic Odontology

Introduction

• Odontology has served as a means of identification for almost 200 years.
• Paul Revere identified General Earl Warren using a dental bridge.
• The Webster Parkman case in 1849 was the first documented case using dental ID in court.

Basis for Dental Identification

• The fundamental principle is that "no two sets of teeth are identical."
• There are approximately 2.5 billion different possibilities in charting human dentition.
• Adult dentition consists of 32 teeth, each with five surfaces.
• Other areas of examination include:
  • Dental restorations
  • Root canals
  • Fillings and caps
  • Chipped and fractured teeth
  • Dental anomalies

Reliability of Dental Identification

• Fingerprints, DNA, and dental analysis are the three most reliable methods of identification.
• Enamel, which is 98% inorganic, is the hardest and most durable part of the human body.

Postmortem Dental Examination Components

• Antemortem x-rays
  • These are the most reliable form of dental identification.
• Antemortem photograph (smiling)
  • If enough anomalies are present, it may provide positive identification.
• Dental chart comparisons
  • This is the least reliable of the three methods.

Challenges in Dental Recovery

• Dental recovery can be complicated by:
  • Trauma
  • Fire
  • Animal activity
• When skeletonized, anterior teeth may become separated, requiring sifting to obtain all dentition.
• DNA can be obtained years or centuries later from mummified pulpal material.

Antemortem vs. Postmortem Teeth Removal

• When antemortem teeth removal occurs:
  • The socket begins to fill in with bony material and may be filled within a few months.
• In postmortem removal of teeth:
  • The socket will remain open and have sharp edges.

Age Determination

• Up to the age of 13, age determination can be accurate to within six months.
• From the mid-teens to twenties, accurate aging becomes more difficult.
• Dentition can aid anthropologists in determining sex and race.

Bite Marks

• Bite marks are produced when teeth contact a softer material, such as:
  • Food
  • Skin
  • Steering wheels
• Bite marks may be left by:
  • The attacker
  • The victim
  • Both
• In many cases, bite marks may be from an animal, most commonly dogs.

Bite Mark Analysis

• Unlike DNA or fingerprints, bite marks do not provide an exact match or ID of the perpetrator.
• Instead, they provide a degree of certainty.
• There is no database of bite marks.
• Dentition can be altered.
• Bite marks provide clues to the dental profile of a suspect.

Bite Mark Considerations

• Distinguishing between a bite mark and an artifact is crucial.
• Determining if the mark is human or animal is necessary.
• Consider:
  • Postmortem insect activity
  • Laying on gravel or rough surfaces
  • EKG patches

Preserving and Processing Bite Marks

• Preservation and processing are key.
• Methods include:
  • Photographs
  • DNA swabs
  • 3-dimensional impression of wound

Importance of Bite Mark Analysis

• While bite marks may not show definitive linkage to a suspect, they can provide dental characteristics to eliminate possible suspects.
• This allows law enforcement to focus on other leads.