Forensic Odontology - Lecture notes 9 PDF

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notes on forensic odontology with dr. sponslor including how identifications are made, vocabulary and responsibilities of a forensic odontologist ...

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Forensic Odontology Tuesday, March 27, 2018

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12:30

What is forensic odontology? ○ Identification through characteristics of teeth, their alignment, and structure of the mouth ○ Determination of age ○ Bite mark analysis ○ Assessment of dental care ○ Mass disaster victim identification Training ○ A forensic odontologists is a dentist first (dental school, dental practice) ○ Additional training and certification on forensic odontology ○ Most forensic odontologists do this on an asneeded basis (case by case) § Not typically full time Bone structure ○ Mostly inorganic § Mineralized osseous tissues □ "matrix" § Tissues composed of calcium phosphate called hydroxyapatite □ Strength and structural rigidity ○ Organic portion § Collagen § Forms long fibers extending through the bone matrix § Elasticity ○ Maxilla § Upper jaw ○ Mandible § Lower jaw Primary dentition ○ Baby teeth, milk teeth ○ Deciduous teeth

Deciduous teeth § 20 of them Permanent dentition ○ First erupt 6-8 years old ○ 32 teeth § Incisors □ 8 total, 4 on top 4 on bottom □ Flat, chisel like □ For cutting food □ Mamelons ® Scalloped edges on teeth □ Prone to falling out after death § Canines □ Long single roots □ Less prone to falling out after death □ For grasping food § Premolars □ Bicuspids □ Two roots that appear to be somewhat fused □ Buccal cusp is usually the larger of two § molars □ For chewing and grinding □ 2-3 roots ® Uppers usually 3, lowers with 2 □ More variability between people than other tooth types Dental ID ○ Postmortem examination § May exam teeth in the body § May remove jaw and remove soft tissue § Each tooth or socket is examined individually and the following is recorded □ Presence/absence of tooth □ Socket present or healed ® Healed socket = past removal ® Present socket = recent removal □ Erupted vs. unerupted □ Filling or crown material ○ Locate ante-mortem dental records f id i i k d d ○

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If identity is known or suspected, records can be obtained from dentist § If identity is unknown, the examination results are submitted to a missing person registry ○ Comparison of observed dentition to dental records § Postmortem exam compared to ante-mortem records § A statement is made about each tooth □ Consistent □ Different with trauma □ Different with recent work ○ Individuality of teeth § Many combinations of restorations are possible § Size and orientation can vary § Not everyone has the same number of teeth § Root structure varies ○ Acquired abnormalities § Repairs, restorations, prostheses Mass disasters ○ May use four teams of odontologists, overseen by a chief forensic dentist § Recovery at disaster scene § Postmortem exams at morgue § Collect ante-mortem and dental records § Compare postmortem and ante-mortem data, employing computer software Bite mark analysis ○ Can serve to link a suspect to a victim or crime scene ○ Impressions left on gum, food, victim, other things ○ Appearance § Antemortem □ Diffused bruise § Perimortem □ Defined bruise § Postmortem □ No bruise § Living person

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□ Blurs and fades in a few hours Collection ○ § Identify as mark § Collect 3 swabs □ ABO blood test, amylase detection □ DNA analysis □ Microorganism analysis § Photograph bite mark § Make an impression of the mark OSAC odontology subcommittee ○ 17 members § 5 practitioners § 3 educators § 2 researchers § 1 judge § 4 government officials § 2 association members ○ Work in bitemark analysis was labeled as "high priority" ○ Goals § Review existing guidelines, standards, best practices § Identify gaps in knowledge □ Research § Review pathway for education and certification ○ 2016 document submitted calling for research titled "reliability of bite-mark analysis methodology"...