What Is Forensic Dentistry?

Forensic dentistry has been used to help gain a conviction for some time, in particular the use of bite mark comparisons. Bite marks may be found anywhere on the body and on other objects and frequently on a suspect when a victim has bitten as a means of defence. The use of this type of scientific evidence has been in use since 1870, but the first published case was not until 1954 in Texas. In this case, the bite mark was examined on a piece of cheese and the suspect was asked to bite another piece for comparison to show that they were at a particular scene.

Forensic dentistry is just one area of forensics that you can specialise in and one that is frequently seen in TV shows. A forensic odontologist is typically concerned with dental evidence where it can be used to support criminal investigations both in terms of solving a crime and in court as part of an expert witness statement.

Our teeth can provide a great deal of information such as a child's age and even to identify a 'John Doe'. Dental records tend to be quite unique and can include radiographs. These are matched to post-mortem photographs and DNA. However, forensic dentistry also covers several other practices. For example, a forensic odontologist may be required to help in the identification of individual human remains, mass body fatalities or in helping to solve cases of abuse.

Bite mark analysis is not without controversy, given that marks can be affected by changes over time on the living, the deceased, where on the body the bite mark is, whether there is other tissue damage present and in the similarities between the dentition of individuals. Great care must be exercised in forensic dentistry when taking photographs, measurements and impressions as this can also be a cause of contention. As well as photography, studies have also included using fingerprint powder to lift a 'print' from the bite mark and then to use tape to transfer the impression onto an acetate. This "lifting" method has been suggested to be much more subjective and reliable as the mark has to be traced by hand and can be easily altered. Photocopies and photography are thought to be more reliable than lifting a print.

Photocopies are slowly being replaced with the use of digital overlays that are thought to be even more reliable. Using a procedure referred to as the 2D polyline method and with the aid of Adobe Photoshop (or similar), straight lines are drawn between two points in the arch and then between the incisor edges to determine the width of the teeth for example. Again using Photoshop, the model is painted in and measurements taken using thirteen different variables for analysis. Both these methods are thought to be reliable with the 2D polyline suggested to be more efficient.

If you are interested in forensic dentistry and wish to become a forensic odontologist you will naturally need to be a dentist and will be required to take further qualifications in forensics.






 

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