FORENSIC ODONTOLOGY

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FORENSIC ODONTOLOGY
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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

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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

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The Use of Teeth by Forensic Science

• 20 deciduous teeth, 32 adult teeth
• Transition period from 6-12 years
• Asian and Native populations have shovel shaped
  incisors
• Age of dental fillings
• Orthodontic work usually removal of four
  bicuspids

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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

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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

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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

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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

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