Odontology

Question 1

Odontology

Answer 1

Forensic odontology involves the examination, evaluation and presentation of dental evidence in a legal investigation.

Forensic odontologist will often be called as an expert witness.

Main principle is comparison and exclusion leading to 4 outcomes;
–Positive identification
–Possible identification
–In-sufficent identification
–Exclusion

Question 2

Types of cases

Answer 2

Disaster assistance

Fire cases

Missing persons

Bite mark analysis (inc animals)

Age estimation

Question 3

Why we need to know about teeth

Answer 3

If you can identify what a tooth is and its tooth position it can help identification.

Eruption of permanent teeth = helps aging

Presence or absence or deciduous teeth (non adult) = helps aging.

Aging and individual = helps identification

Question 4

Why we need to know about teeth

Answer 4

If you can identify what a tooth is and its tooth position it can help identification.

Eruption of permanent teeth = helps aging

Presence or absence or deciduous teeth (non adult) = helps aging.

Aging and individual = helps identification

Question 5

Humans are..

Answer 5

Diphydonts

Question 6

Labial

Answer 6

Side towards lips

Question 7

Buccal

Answer 7

Side toward cheeks

Question 8

Mesial

Answer 8

Towards midline

Question 9

Distal

Answer 9

Towards back of mouth, away from midline

Question 10

Crown

Answer 10

Above gum covered in enamel

Question 11

Neck

Answer 11

Constricted portion just below crown

Question 12

Root

Answer 12

Part of tooth enclosed in socket

Question 13

Root

Answer 13

Part of tooth enclosed in socket

Question 14

Teeth

Answer 14

Incisors (2)
Canines (1)
Premolars (2)
Molars (3)

Question 15

How many teeth adults have

Answer 15

32

Question 16

Dental wear and aging

Answer 16

Analysing dental wear is a common method used to age adult skeletal remains.

Strong correlation between chronological age and the severity of dental attrition.

Diet has impact – coarse food more attrition.

Question 17

Dental translucency

Answer 17

Root dentin translucency starts always near the apex and spreads towards the cemento-enamel junction.

Gustafson’s morphohistologic approach - 6 parameters

Translucency usually measured with the help of calipers – now digital options

Digital calipers used.

Translucency can be assessed macroscopically on intact teeth, but tooth sections provided better results and can be scanned easily