History
The 1849 murder of Dr. George Parkman demonstrated this new role for dentistry in criminal investigations.
What is the use of dental evidence to identify human remains in a murder case?
This is the term for the indentations left by human teeth on objects, skin, or food that are analyzed in forensic odontology.
What is a bite mark?
Forensic odontologists often use these records of a person’s dental history to compare missing or unidentified remains with their previous dental work.
What are ante-mortem dental records?
This serial killer’s conviction in 1979 marked one of the first major U.S. cases where bite mark evidence played a key role in securing a guilty verdict.
Who is Ted Bundy?
Teeth are especially valuable in identifying victims of mass disasters because…
What is they can survive fire, water, and decomposition
This forensic method, first spotlighted in Doyle v. The State of Texas, relies on comparing tooth patterns to link a suspect to a crime.
What is bite mark analysis?
This method involves making a mold of a bite mark to reconstruct the dental pattern of the biter.
What is a negative impression casting?
Modern forensic identification of disaster victims can be streamlined through the use of this resource that stores ante-mortem dental records, and other personal information.
What are dental and missing person databases?
Bundy’s conviction is often considered a matter of “luck” by forensic experts because of this unusual dental feature that made his bite uniquely identifiable.
What are his crooked lower teeth?
This organization, founded in 1976, is the only accredited body that certifies forensic dentists in the United States.
What is the American Board of Forensic Odontology (ABFO)?
In this 1954 case, a burglar was convicted after investigators matched a bite mark found in a piece of cheese to his dental impression.
What was Doyle v. The State of Texas?
Bite mark analysis can sometimes identify these characteristics of the teeth that made the mark, such as sharpness, width, and shape.
What are tooth types or individual dental features?
This type of advanced scientific analysis can supplement dental examination to determine the age of unidentified human remains.
What is Carbon-14 dating?
Gacy’s victims were often identified using this branch of forensic odontology, which focuses on comparing dental records to help confirm identity in cases of decomposition.
What is dental identification?
In 1991, this man was convicted largely due to an improperly documented bite mark and later freed after experts retracted their testimony.
Who was John Kunco?
This Roman woman’s identity was confirmed by her unique teeth after her rival, Julia Agrippina, ordered her death in 49 AD.
Who was Lollia Paulina?
Modern forensic science emphasizes that bite mark analysis should be used alongside this type of supporting evidence rather than relied upon alone.
What is corroborating evidence such as DNA, fingerprints, or witness statements?
Dentists can sometimes detect child abuse by observing injuries to this part of the mouth, such as a torn frenum in infants or toddlers.
What is the labial frenum or oral cavity?
What part of the tooth can hold DNA and was used as supporting evidence for the dental records of Gacy’s victims?
What is the pulp of the tooth?
Critics may doubt bite mark analysis, but this type of evidence left by teeth can still help link a suspect to the scene.
What are art and science?
He was a self-taught dentist who made the first recorded dental identification in America by recognizing Dr. Joseph Warren’s artificial tooth.
Who was Paul Revere?
This factor makes bite mark evidence highly controversial because the material being bitten can change shape over time, affecting the reliability of identification.
What is skin elasticity or distortion?
Forensic odontologists can estimate a person’s age by examining the size, shape, dentition, or transparency of this part of the tooth.
What are tooth roots?
This technique was used to help match dental features between records and remains for Gacy’s victims.
What is radiographic superimposition?
Critics may doubt bite mark analysis, but this type of evidence left by teeth can still help link a suspect to the scene.
What is biological trace evidence (saliva, tissue, skin cells)