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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.