The Job Of A Forensic Dentist

If you enjoy watching television crime dramas or thrillers, you've undoubtedly noticed how important teeth can be in solving a mystery. A forensic dentist has a unique job that can help set the innocent free or send a criminal to prison for the injustices he has committed. So how do these professionals find such a wealth of information on just one set of teeth? How do they do it when there is only one tooth found? What can they do with the faint impression left from a bite? Here are the answers.

Identification:
A forensic dentist will likely spend a large portion of their time identifying bodies through analysis of dental x-rays. And while every smile is unique, much like a set of fingerprints, there is no national tooth file for every citizen. Teeth can also change overtime as people damage, lose, or alter them through cosmetic procedures. So why do the police and other organizations depend on dentistry to positively ID human remains? Enamel, the tough surface on the outermost part of the tooth, is the hardest and most durable part of the human anatomy. Long after bones have eroded, the teeth will remain intact. A mold of the teeth is taken and a list of potential matches is then given for comparison. Matches are chosen in a variety of ways, which can include gender, assumed age, location, and other specifics of the case. X-rays of the oral remains are compared with anything found through dental records, and if lucky, a match will come up. In instances of mass killings, such as a plane crash, using dental records is invaluable. Tooth pulp may also be extracted and used for DNA testing.

Bite Marks:
Another job of a forensic dentist is to assess bite marks to determine how an injury occurred or by whom. This is most commonly used in cases of violence or abuse, much like a bruise, blood spatter, or other wound could be examined and used as evidence in a case. A dentist will have to work fast in the case of a bite wound due to the mutability and delicacy of the marks. The wound will be measured and analyzed against the suspect's dental records to determine if there are significant similarities. There is much controversy surrounding the efficacy of bite mark analysis, especially post-mortem. The skin can change rapidly, which can change location and shape of the mark. In addition, the marks can vary greatly depending on how it was made, pressure from the lips and tongue, and how the victim moved when attacked.

A forensic dentist can also help determine the age of the body within a small range by studying the wear of the teeth and overall condition. Most people working in the industry start with a regular practice and then can receive specialized training in forensics. Those who specialize in the profession work primarily with the police force, detective agencies, lawyers, and other government forces. Some may work in private practice dealing with mainly legal aspects.