Forensic odontology is a branch of forensic science that uses dental records and techniques to identify victims of crime. It is a powerful tool for law enforcement, providing crucial evidence in criminal investigations and helping to bring closure to families of victims. In this article, we will explore the various ways in which forensic odontology is used to identify victims of crime.Forensic dentists can extract DNA from the pulp chamber of teeth to identify victims. This is done by comparing dental records with those of a cadaver or matching the mark of a bite with that of an attacker.
Additionally, forensic dentists may use ameloglyphs or enamel bar patterns to help with identification. Dental records are used to help identify people who are victims of criminal acts, murder investigations, mass deaths, or missing persons.Confirming the identity of the deceased is essential for several reasons. One of the most important is to provide closure to immediate family members when tragic or unexpected events occur. It is also necessary for legal estate settlements, as a death certificate is needed in order to issue one.
This is why dental identification plays a major role in identifying remains when post-mortem changes occur, traumatic tissue injury occurs, or there are no fingerprints.In cases of death, the forensic dentist attends the autopsy and takes photographs, cranial measurements, dental impressions and x-rays of the remains. These samples are then compared with those of known missing persons. If a match can be found, the remains can be identified. Forensic dentists can also match bite marks on objects found at the scene with those of a suspect.They develop the ability to compare dental impressions taken from a person's mouth with the impressions of a bite on the victim's skin (or possibly bone).
There are many factors to consider, such as the coincidence of stretch marks, coils, crevices, pitts and abrasions, and this is often done with computer-enhanced photographs. They can also analyze bite marks on food in cases where the aggressor bit something in the victim's house and left it behind.What experts are looking for is a sufficient number of points of similarity between the evidence and a suspect to be able to say with a reasonable degree of certainty that he is the perpetrator. The forensic dentist usually works with forensic anthropologists to help identify a person or to develop a profile based on the remains.
Forensic dentistry
requires attention to detail and the ability to work patiently to complete a lengthy process step by step without haste. The main utility of forensic dentistry is the identification of human remains based on the individualistic characteristics present in the teeth of different individuals.This overview has attempted to describe the importance of various types of dental tests, techniques and methods used in forensic dentistry for identification purposes.Forensic dentistry is primarily concerned with the use of teeth and oral structures for identification in a legal context. A variety of forensic dentistry techniques help identify human remains in incidents such as terrorist attacks, plane, train and road accidents, fires, mass killings, and natural disasters such as tsunamis, earthquakes and floods. Forensic dentists typically work as regular dentists most of the time, performing forensic exams as needed at the request of local law enforcement or the medical examiner.
