Forensic Odontology Flashcards
Who sets the standards for dentists in the UK
General Dental Council
Must be followed
What are the roles of a forensic odontologist
Bite marks - identification and analysis/comparison
Ageing victims from their dentition
Victim identification based on dentition - can be single or multiple body or individual teeth
Bite mark analysis has many limitations - true or false
True
How did forensic odontology start
FO started with a Cuban dentist who taught in Paris (end of 19th century)
There was a fatal fire at charity event in Paris in 1897
They were unable to recognise bodies by personal effects so a team of dentists compared dental records to identify them
The Cuban dentist followed this case and wrote a paper on human identification from teeth/dental records
He is known as the father of the specialty
Can forensic odontologists identify someone from a single tooth
Yes
Obviously more teeth makes it more accurate
When is comparative dental analysis used
When we have access to the dental records of the victim/potential victim
When is dental profiling used
When we don’t have access to the dental records
Enamel is the hardest material in the human body - true or false
True
High stability - therefore good for identification as resistant to damage
What is enamel composed of
98% mineral and some organic material
This makes it very resilient
How can you get a DNA from a dental sample
Can get DNA from the pulp of the tooth (pulp relatively protected by the rest of tooth)
You extract the tooth from body to collect this
When does dental DNA come in useful
Useful if comparative analysis isn’t available as it can be used for ID instead
Forensic odontology can be applied at any stage of death - true or false
True
Can analyse the teeth of recent corpses, mummies and decomposed bodies
How do dentists record dentition in life
They will take notes of everything that is in your mouth such as missing teeth, fillings
Recorded on a odontogram - diagram of mouth
Will also write down the treatment plan
What is the main difference between AM and PM dental records
The AM records will usually include the treatment plan
PM records do not require this - obviously
How are AM dental records used for identification
The suspected patient’s AM record can be compared to the dentition of the corpse
Can match missing teeth and dental work
Which forms do forensic odontologists use to record their findings
They use Interpol forms - allows international use
Pink form records all data and findings from the PM
Yellow form collects all ante-mortem data - i.e. collected from police or victims dentist
Which investigations may a forensic odontologist carry out on a body at PM
Full oral examination and record findings
Dental radiographs
Intra-oral photographs
May take casts of the teeth
How are PM dental X-rays taken
Using a portable x-ray machine
Sensor placed in oral cavity and portable machine can take a digital X-ray quickly
What equipment do forensic odontologists use
Pretty much the same equipment as normal dentistry
Use large forceps to extract teeth for DNA
Also work with portable X-ray machines
Why do forensic odontologists typically work in the back corner of the mortuary
Because they work with radiation
Far away from other to keep them safe
Why do forensic odontologists use UV light
Sometimes used to view the composite on teeth (white or tooth coloured materials)
Used as it doesn’t show up under poor mortuary lighting
What is an odontogram
It is the diagram of the teeth that the dentist records features on
What is the main limitation of odontograms
Not perfect - human error
You rely on their interpretation of the individual dentist and their records
(unlike x-rays or images where you can view and analyse yourself)
Dentists may miss something in life
Forensic odontologists prefer to receive records that have proper images of the oral cavity - true or false
True
X-rays and photos are very useful
Allows for their own interpretation rather than relying on the odontogram