Forensic Odontology
Forensic Odontology, also known as forensic dentistry is the examination and evaluation of dental evidence. Information that can be garnered from teeth ranges from estimating someones age, identification VIA dental records or by ante-mortem photographs (photographs taken prior to death). The other type of evidence is bite marks which can either be found on an object, a victim, or the prepetrator.
Just like fingerprints, no two set of teeth are the same. During a dental patients routine check-up they might go through various treatments on their crowns, fillings, root canals, ect. These treatments are how dental records are recorded.
Forensic dentistry is a major part in identifying vicitms of both man-made and natural disasters, which can result in single, or multiple deaths and rendering conventional methods for identification inadequate. This is because not only do "teeth last longer then flesh" -Mr. Young, but not everyone has finger prints on record, unless for example you're a criminal. Thankfully both teeth and dental restorations (dental filling) can survive both the destructive influences of fire and elements. For example if you were in an aircraft accident, a forensic odontologist would be able to identify you based off of your teeth, even if most of your body was burned severely. Another example of human identification from teeth is victims from the World Trade Center, it was also used on Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun after WW2 as well as those killed in the Waco Branch Davidien siege.
Just like fingerprints, no two set of teeth are the same. During a dental patients routine check-up they might go through various treatments on their crowns, fillings, root canals, ect. These treatments are how dental records are recorded.
Forensic dentistry is a major part in identifying vicitms of both man-made and natural disasters, which can result in single, or multiple deaths and rendering conventional methods for identification inadequate. This is because not only do "teeth last longer then flesh" -Mr. Young, but not everyone has finger prints on record, unless for example you're a criminal. Thankfully both teeth and dental restorations (dental filling) can survive both the destructive influences of fire and elements. For example if you were in an aircraft accident, a forensic odontologist would be able to identify you based off of your teeth, even if most of your body was burned severely. Another example of human identification from teeth is victims from the World Trade Center, it was also used on Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun after WW2 as well as those killed in the Waco Branch Davidien siege.