Forensic Odontology: A Case Study
Identification of a Murder Victim
The following case provided by Dr Claudia Garrido-Varas (pictured above) will illustrate some of the benefits of dental forensic examination for human identification, using both a traditional autopsy and anthropological means.Teeth have been studied intensively by clinicians and anthropologists in terms of anatomy, physiology, pathology and development. We discussed last week their use in estimating the age of a person at death.We know that we need to look after our teeth, otherwise factors such as dental decay can progress and cause us a lot of pain, as well as lead to the loss of teeth.At the dentist, teeth undergo a variety of treatments (amalgams, teeth colour restorations, ceramic crowns, gold crowns, etc.), they can also be extracted, implanted, moved with braces, etc. During these procedures, they are often radiographed, photographed, or moulded and records of such treatment are kept.Dental identification relies upon an ante-mortem/post-mortem comparison. The key to a successful identification relies on adequate ante-mortem information (when the person was alive). Dental records can establish identity reliably, cheaply and quickly when compared to DNA analysis. The speed of identification is particularly crucial for family members who need to know the fate of their relative(s) as soon as possible.Analysis of the Victim: Case Study
A female victim was found in an advanced state of decomposition, with total absence of facial features. She presented a peri-mortem fracture on the body of her mandible. The post mortem dental examination of her body revealed that she had numerous dental treatments. The information recorded from the unidentified body was compared to the chart of a female who had been missing for one week and who was the suspected victim. Radiographs of the dentition were also taken post-mortem to compare with ante-mortem dental records available for the suspected victim.


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