Forensic odontostomatology

Geoffrey H. Sperber

School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.

DOI: 10.4236/fmar.2013.14019                

Abstract

Teeth are the most durable and enduring structures of human anatomy, surviving fragmentation, partial incineration and severe decomposition. The role of teeth in identification is manifested as significant specifiers of deceased or living individuals. The characteristics of dentalmorphology are genetically-inherited and ascribable to racial or familial ancestry. Dental age identification is attributable to young individuals. The chemical composition of teeth identifies diets during life, as attritional wear patterns do. Bite marks transiently relate to the perpetrator of attacks. Dental restorations and prostheses are evidence of economic, cultural and social status of deceased individuals. Palatal rugae patterns are unique to individuals. The DNA identification of postmortem dental pulp tissue relating to a deceased individual or a living relative is the ultimate criterion of positive association of forensic recognition, as other means of identification become less effective, forensic dental identification increases in importance.

Keywords

Forensics; Teeth; Identity; DNA

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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