Terminology

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Terminology

• Odontology dentistry the study of the teeth
• Dentition the complement of teeth of an
  individual
• Bite Marks the pattern left by teeth in human
  tissue of inanimate objects
• Negligence the failure to treat the patient at
  the highest level of care and competency
• Prognosis the predicted outcome of a patients
  condition
• Maxilla upper jaw
• Mandible lower jaw
• Enamel the outer covering of the tooth
• Perimortem at or around the time of death
• Postmortem after death
• Antemortem pre-death

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Overview

• Introduction
• History
• Dental Training
• Expert Witness Testimony
• Body Identification
• Dentition Descriptions
• Postmortem Examination and Records
• Antemortem Record and Examination
• Record Comparison and Reporting
• Bite Mark Analysis
• Bite Mark Recognition
• Collection and Comparison of Bite Mark Evidence

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I. Introduction

• Forensic Odontology is the application of the
  arts and sciences of dentistry to the legal
  system.

• 2. Three (3) main areas
• Use of dentition in the identification of
  individuals by comparing teeth with predeath
  dental records and the use of teeth as a source
  for DNA
• Comparison of dentition with pattern injuries in
  human tissue or inanimate substances
• Analysis of negligence, standard of care issues,
  and injury in malpractice cases.

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How is Odontology used to Solve Crimes?

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vDKeEbVLZNWc

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History

• Legends
• Roman Emperor Claudius (1st century)
• King William the Conqueror (1066 AD)
• 1776- Paul Revere
• 1849 Dental Evidence was admitted into United
  States courts for identification purposes
• Bite Mark Evidence 1952 in Doyle v Texas

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Body Identification by Dental Means

• Dentition Descriptions
• Post mortem Examination and Record
• Ante mortem record and examination
• Record Comparison and reporting
• Forensic Dentistry in mass disaster

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Dentition Descriptions

• Every Individual has 2 dentitions in their life
• Primary (20)
• Permanent (32)
• The teeth are divided between 2 jaws
• Maxilla
• Mandible
• Primary Dentition A-T
• Permanent uses 1-16 (upper), and 17-32 lower

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Structure of the tooth

• All teeth are divided into a crown, and a root.
• Crown is covered with enamel.
• In the center of the tooth is the pulp or nerve
  tissue----DNA source

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Post mortem Examination and Record

• Begins with access to dentition
• May be done in place (in situ)
• Dentition may need to be removed
• If the jaw is removed, it is first soaked in
  hydrogen peroxide
• Statements are made whether teeth are erupted,
  restored, and with what filling material.
• Also gum and periodontal disease
• X-rayed if possible

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Ante mortem record and examination

• The accuracy and completeness of a persons dental
  records allow a dentist to make a positive
  identity with reasonable certainty.
• Next of kin
• Personal effects
• Once a person has gone missing their dental
  records are entered into a national database

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Record Comparison and reporting

• If the postmortem and ante mortem data are
  complete, the comparison and identification
  process is straightforward.
• Each tooth of the post mortem record is compared
  to the same tooth in the ante mortem record.
• A statement is made
• No inconsistencies
• Explainable inconsistencies
• Unexplainable inconsistencies
• Undeterminable
• The most reliable method is X-rays

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Forensic Dentistry in Mass Disaster

• Forensic Dentists face several challenges in Mass
  Disaster cases
• Dismemberment and alterations of dentition
• Victims can be from other countries and obtaining
  ante mortem records is difficult
• The amount of stress in dealing with these
  situations is debilitating

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Bite Mark Analysis

• Recognition
• Most often seen in cases of abuse, rape, murder
• In order to be used as evidence
• Recognizable bite pattern
• Know what to do with the evidence
• The first and second bicuspids are rarely
  involved in bite marks

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Bite Mark Recognition..

• Bite marks in human tissue depends on
• The tissue bitten
• Muscle or connective tissue has a more distinct
  outline compared to fatty tissue
• The biting force
• Defensive or aggressive bite marks tend to be
  less distinct and may show tearing
• The resistance to biting by the victim
• The more compliant the victim, the more defined
  the mark
• Bite marks found on deceased victims are more
  useful than on living victims.
• On a living victim is must be collected with in 8
  hours

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Using Bite Marks to Determine Time of Death

• 1 Ante mortem bite marks injury inflicted
  while the heart is still beating will produce
  bruising around the patterns and will usually
  diffuse
• 2 Peri mortem Bite marks (w/in 5 minutes)
  injury inflicted at the time the heart stops will
  produce well defined bruising
• 3 Postmortem bite marks the heart is not
  beating and the blood has coagulated produces
  well define indents and no bruising

10 days later
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Collection Of Evidence

• Bite marks can only be used as evidence if all
  data is carefully collected.
• Photographed with ruler
• Swabbed for saliva and DNA
• Impressions are made
• Cast of assailants (suspect) teeth
• Metric analysis

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Comparison

• The last step in bite mark analysis is the
  comparison of the bite mark with the suspects
  dentition.
• Saliva is compared (amylase, ABO blood type, DNA)
• Bite planes
• Photographs
• Metric Analysis

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