In the world of forensic science, where the details are a matter of life or death, dentistry’s role may be easily overlooked, explains a family dentist in St. Cloud, MN. Fingerprints and DNA are notoriously used in forensic investigations, and the same applies to identifying corpses or apprehending offenders. In this article, we shall explore the relationship between dentistry and forensics and uncover the mysteries solved by toothpaste.
The Uniqueness of Dental Records
Dental records replicate the uniqueness of the owner, making this type of evidence comparable to the fingerprint. In as much as each person’s teeth are unique and are akin to that person’s fingerprint, there are subtle differences in teeth size and shape and the dental treatment they have undergone. Dental records are easy to obtain and often play a decisive role in identifying a corpse or a murderer.
The Dental Identification Process
When it comes to the dearth of other forms of identification like personal fingerprinting or the absence of comparison means such as DNA, forensic dentists compare antemortem X-rays and documents like dental charts and past photographs with those made post-mortem. The evidence is decisive and veers towards certainty in most cases. The impact of forensic dentistry has proved crucial in many high-profile cases.
Bite Mark Analysis
Analyzing bite marks is also an aspect of dentistry where one can find evidence in a victim or a suspect’s teeth. Such evidence, like dental records, can exonerate a suspect or convince of a conviction. Bite marks are often left at the site of the crime when the criminal uses violence or attempts to rape. The science used to ascertain the murder weapon and the accreditation of the crime to a particular murderer is called bite mark analysis.
Age Estimation and Trauma Analysis
Understanding the age of the victim is also possible for forensic dentists. By discerning the approximate age of the victim and the state of their teeth, forensic dentists can also identify potential suspects. The science is regarded with skepticism for its accuracy but, as with many forensic procedures, is based on the linchpin of circumstantial evidence, such as the age of the central incisor when the enamel starts deteriorating.
Disaster Victim Identification
After horrible tragedies like plane wrecks or natural disasters, dental records are often the last chance to identify many victims. In this field, forensic dentists have been historically successful in ascertaining the identities of many lost souls.
This science has made the identification of corpses’ last known whereabouts accurate enough to allow the last rites to be bestowed upon the fallen.
