Forensics

Question 1

Forensic anthropology

Answer 1

Study of skeletal evidence - tooth bone, etc.
Sex, body weight, size, age determination (until age 18) can be determined from this.
We can also look into racial/cultural background - tooth shape, jaws, zygomatic process shape, arch shape- parabolic = caucasion, hyperbolic = af am, etc. ramus shape, carabelli cusp.

Question 2

Forensic odontology

Answer 2

Grouped in 5 different areas:

Human dental identification
Legal/personal injury
Human abuse and neglect
Bite mark analysis
Mass disaster HDID

Question 3

Teeth used because

Answer 3

They are the most durable of the body parts. Dentitions are as individual as fingerprints. Can determine age, sex (shape of arch), socioeconomics (race or cultural heritage). Even twins have diff. dentition.

Question 4

Forensic dental techniques

Answer 4

Collection and preservation of specimens.
Teeth, jaw remains, radiographs, photographs, impressions and casts.

Ante mortem and postmortem charting are very important.

Question 5

Record:

Answer 5

Anomolies and general morphology - compare lack of gingival attachment for example. Attrition patterns, different restoration types.

Question 6

DNA vs Forensic

Answer 6

DNA = high cost, ante mortem records not always available, long process.
Forensic = low cost, ante mortem records almost always available, shorter process.

Question 7

Chicago vs john gacy

Answer 7

Gacy was a known serial killer. His victims were id’d primarily by dental record.

Question 8

Civil litigation

Answer 8

Abuse, neglect, malpractice. Be aware of the signs- broken teeth, fractured jaws, lacerated lips, rampant or severe decay (neglect in children).

Question 9

Bite marks

Answer 9

Telltale marks, pattern injuries. Dental cast and photographs, rule out or incriminate, additional evidence needed.

Ted bundy- bite marks helped this verdict

Question 10

California vs. Dr. Marx Vale 1975

Answer 10

First human bite case - Dr. Marx Vale found out the responsible person from an image, exhumed body, led to a conviction.

Question 11

Initial response to disaster

Answer 11

1. Site security is first priority
2. Dentist present during operation of search and recovery
3. Flagging and photographs of body parts
4. Stabilization - hair spray is a last resort - keeping tissue together.
5. Numbering

Question 12

3 morgue teams

Answer 12

Antemortem, postmortem, comparison. Two dentists per team and secretarial support. At least one dentist must have done this before.

After this is done, info entered into Win ID program.

Question 13

Ante mortem team

Answer 13

Obtain dental records of possible victims.
Data base
Review of charts, radiographs, casts
Translation if needed, use of different numbering systems.

Question 14

Post mortem team

Answer 14

Photos, radiographs, cleaning of specimens, clinical examination. ID missing teeth, eruption/age determination, structure of crown, root structure, pulp, pathological changes, anatomy of sinuses, bony architecture, pathology