Dental Records - Lecture 22

Question 1

When comparing antemortem with postmortem dental records what should you compare?

Answer 1

• unique characteristics like dental stones or pulp stones which are a calcification of dentin within the pulp chamber with age
• look at the shapes of the cusps
• the number of roots due to split root canals
• shape of the crowns
• space of the pulp chamber
• shape and space between the teeth

Question 2

What are the problems with comparing pre and postmortem radiographs?

Answer 2

• all teeth with no restorations is hard to compare because nothing stands out
• poor or inconsistent antemortem record keeping
• recording errors
• multiple dentists

Question 3

What is forensic odontology?

Answer 3

• the application of dentistry to forensic identification
• looking at teeth
• looking at the state of the mandible and maxilla

Question 4

What is a mandibular torus?

Answer 4

a nodule protruding from the inner side of the mandible

Question 5

What things are included in the postmortem dental exam?

Answer 5

1. inventory all the teeth
   - if they’re missing or present
   - post or premoretm missing teeth
2. document any restorations
3. dental pathology to document any affected areas
4. bite type
5. miscellaneous things
   - like shovel shaped incisors

Question 6

What types of dental pathologies could be included in step 3 of a postmortem dental exam?

Answer 6

• cavities (caries)
• cracks
• discolouration
• plaque (calculus)
• enamel hypoplasia
• excessive dental wear (bruxism)

Question 7

What is a carie?

Answer 7

a cavity in forensic odontology

Question 8

What is calculus?

Answer 8

plaque in forensic odontology

Question 9

What is enamel hypoplasia?

Answer 9

• the hiatus (pause) of enamel cells forming in the crypts
• can happen when you’re not getting enough nutrients
• or if you have a disease
• lines in the enamel or larger deformation

Question 10

What is bruxism?

Answer 10

• the dentistry term for dental wear

Question 11

What are some different bite characteristics?

Answer 11

• over or under bite
• spacing issues
• malocclusion (where the teeth don’t touch)

Question 12

What is a carabelli cusp?

Answer 12

an extra cusp on the mesiolingual surface of the first maxillary molar