Forensic Odontology Prof. Dr.

Balkees Taha

Forensic dentistry (Forensic Odontology)

The term ‘forensic’ is from Latin, meaning a place where legal matters are discussed. Forensic odontology is a
specialised field of dentistry that analyses dental evidence in the interest of justice. Forensic dentists are involved
in assisting investigative agencies in identifying recovered human remains in addition to identifying whole or
fragmented bodies.

The evidence that derived from teeth provides unique features present in each persons. It helps in the estimation
of age and identification of the person to whom the teeth belong, depending on dental records, radiographs, ante-
mortem (prior to death) and post-mortem (after death) photographs and DNA. Teeth and dental restorations are
the strongest elements in the human body and survive the destructive influences of fire and exposure to the
elements.

Forensic dentists are responsible for:

1. Identify human remains that cannot be identified using other means

2. Identify bodies in mass deaths, such as plane crashes and natural disasters.

3. Determine the source of bite mark injuries in cases of beating or suspected abuse

4. Estimation of age, sex, and race.

5. Civil cases involving dental malpractice

Identification of finding human remains

Forensic dentistry plays a significant role in the identification of individuals who cannot be identified. It uses
dental records (case sheet information, study casts, radiographs, and is photographs) and compared with
postmortem findings. Comparison of radiographs is the most accurate and reliable method of identification. If
there are no antemortem dental records, a postmortem dental profile will provide information on the victims.

Age estimation:
• Children: assess the patterns of tooth eruption (eruption sequence) and the root length.
• Young adults: evaluate the development of the third molar.
• Middle-aged and older adults: Periodontal disease progression, excessive wear, many restorations,
extractions, and bridge.
• With age, dentine and cementum deposition are increased; therefore pulp size is reduced and dentin
becomes more sclerotic. This reduction can be used as an indicator of age.

Sex determination
Sex can be determined from

• Morphology of skull, mandible and the shape of the chin. Since supra-orbital ridges, glabella (between
eyebrows), mastoid process, the nuchal and malar areas become more prominent in male. The gonial angle
formed between the body and the ramus is less obtuse than in the female.

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 Forensic Odontology Prof. Dr. Balkees Taha

• Tooth crown diameters are useful in gender determination by odontometric analysis. The mandibular
canines are considered to demonstrate the highest percentage of gender dimorphism amongst all teeth in
their mesiodistal width.
• Using X and Y chromosome in DNA analysis

Race determination
Race determination can be assessed from skull shape and form. Additional characteristics, such as cusps of
Carabelli, shovel-shaped incisors and multi-cusped premolars. Main racial groups: Mongoloid, Negroid,
Caucasoid…..

Socioeconomic status
Socioeconomic status can be accessed through the quality, quantity, and presence or absence of dental treatment
(teeth implants). The presence of erosion may suggest alcohol or an eating disorder while stains can indicate
smoking.
Bite-mark analysis
Bite marks can be found on the victim (by the attacker), or on the perpetrator (from the victim of an attack), or
on an object (apple) found at the crime scene. Also, bite marks are often found in children who are abused.
Steps of bite-mark analysis:
• Identify if the bite for human or animal teeth. Animal teeth are very different from human teeth, so they
leave very different bite-mark patterns.
• Take measurements of each individual bite mark (physical appearance, colour and size) and orientation
of the injury, location on the body, relative contour with the elasticity of the site) and record it in a report,
• Take photos due to the changing nature of the bites. A reference scale (ruler) should be placed in the
same plane as the injury and visible in the photographs to allow subsequent measurements.
• The bite is swabbed for DNA extracted, which may have been left in the saliva of the biter.
• Fabricate an impression of the bitten surface to record any irregularities produced by the teeth.
• If a suspect is identified, a license taken to get a mold of his or her teeth as well as photos of the mouth
in various stages of opening and biting. Then compare transparencies of the mold with those of the bite-
mark cast, and photos of both the bite mark and the suspect's teeth are compared to look for similarities.

Identify specific types of teeth by their class characteristics (incisors produce rectangular injuries and canines

produce triangular injuries). Other features include fractures, rotations, attritional wear, and congenital

malformations. If there's a gap in the bite, the biter is probably missing a tooth. Braces and partials also leave

distinctive impressions. When these are recorded in the injury, it may be possible to compare them to identify the

specific teeth (person) that caused the injury.

Factors that affect the accuracy of the bite mark:

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• Time-dependent changes in living bodies.

• Effects of where the bite mark was found.
• Damage to soft tissue.
• Similarities in dentition among individuals.
• Poor photography, impressions, or measurement of dentition characteristics.
Lip prints

Cheiloscopy (cheilos = lips); means lip print studies. It is unique to each person. Lip prints can be used to
positively identify a person and verify the presence or absence of a person at the scene of a crime.

Rugae print
Palatal rugoscopy means the study of palatal rugae. Palatal rugae are permanent, unique to each individual and
can establish identity through discrimination. Due to their internal position, they are protected from trauma and
high temperatures by the lips, cheek, tongue and buccal pad of fat, teeth, and bone; and do not demonstrate age-
related changes.
In circumstances where the identification of an individual by fingerprint or dental record comparison is difficult,
palatal rugae may be considered as an alternative source.

DNA in Forensic Odontology

DNA is an excellent means of unidentified human remains. There are several sources of DNA in the human body,
such as soft tissue, blood, saliva, bone, tooth, and hair. Teeth remain remarkably intact even through violent
crimes, fires, accidents, and advanced decomposition. DNA can be obtained from teeth (pulp), the remaining
attached periodontal fibers and attached bone fragments. The pulp offers the best source of DNA because it is
usually abundant and has the lowest chance of contamination by non-human DNA.