Forensic Odontology Flashcards
What is forensic odontology?
The appkication of the science of dentistry to the legal system
What does the scope of forensic odontology include?
- dental identification
- mass fatality incident management
- bitemark evidence collection and analysis
- abuse
- age estimation
- expert testimony
What are the 4 types of teeth?
- Incisors
- Canine
- Premolars
- Molars
The deciduous dentition……
Is half formed around birth and erupts into the mouth over the next 2 years
The first tooth of permanent dentition…..
Starts to form just before birth and the last tooth is complete in the early 20s
Forensic odontologists
Qualified dentists who have completed an appropriate specialisation in forensic odontology and professional placement
What is the formula for deciduous teeth?
2-1-2
What is the formula for permanent dentition?
2-1-2-3
Why is standardising dental terminology important?
- prevents misrepresentation of results in a forensic context
- facilitates the maintenance of precise dental records
- make dental data understandable for practitioners from diverse training backgrounds
Teeth are not …… during growth
Static
The shedding of deciduous teeth occurs at a very ………… sequence wishing a given population
Predictable
What is age estimation in the living used for?
Illegal cross-border migrations
Forensic age estimation is required to ascertain whether a person has reached … …. .. ……. …………
The age of criminal responsibility
In Australia there are very ………… judicial outcomes if you are deemed to be a child compared to an adult
Different
What are the 4 steps in the dental identification methodology?
- Obtaining post-mortem photographs, radiographs and accurate charting
- Procurement of ante-mortem films, written notes and charts
- Comparison between ante- and post-mortem data
- One of 4 possible conclusions reached
The ……. of the remains will dictate the complexity of the examination
Condition
What is a closed scenario?
Known manifest of victims
What is an open scenario?
Unknown victims and reliant on reports of missing individuals
What are the 2 types of discrepancies in the comparison process?
- Explainable
2. Unexplainable
What are explainable discrepancies?
Normally relate to the time elapsed between antes and post-mortem records, eg extracted teeth, enlarged restorations
What are unexplainable discrepancies?
If a tooth is not present in the ante-mortem records but is present in the post mortem records, an exclusion must be made
What are the 4 possible conclusions?
- Positive identification
- Possible identification
- Insufficient evidence
- Exclusion
Possible conclusions: positive identification
The ante-mortem and post-mortem data match in sufficient detail, with no unexplainable discordances, to establish they are from the same individual
Possible conclusions: possible identification
The ante-mortem and post-mortem data have consistent features but, because of the quality of either the post-mortem remains or ante-mortem evidence, it is not possible to establish positively
Possible conclusions: insufficient evidence
The available information is insufficient to form the basis for a conclusion
Possible conclusions: exclusion
The ante-mortem and post-mortem data are clearly inconsistent
What occurs in a post-mortem dental examination?
- a methodological and controlled process involving obtaining post-mortem photographs, radiographs and accurate charting
- aim is to locate, identify and document anatomical structures, restorations and appliances that will aid in the comparison process
What are the steps in the process of tooth analysis?
- Post mortem examination
- Ante mortem examination
- Comparison process
- Conclusion
