Western Kentucky University
Forensic Dentistry: Taking a Bite Out of Crime
Institution
Western Kentucky University
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Daniel Carter
Abstract
Forensic dentistry, also referred to as forensic odontology, is the aspect of dentistry dealing with securing, managing, and presenting dental evidence in legal proceedings. Today, by just flipping on the television, you can see forensic dentistry at work. With mass disasters like Hurricane Katrina and 9/11 occurring around us, it's evident that we need a way to identify victims of these horrible traumas. Dental records also show restorations, extractions, surface structure/root configuration, adjacent teeth, and any other unique landmarks in a person's mouth. The key role of dental records and accurately recording findings during a dental exam by the dental hygienist in the forensic dental team are presented. Forensic dentistry is an ever expanding field with lots of interesting techniques and data.
Forensic Dentistry: Taking a Bite Out of Crime
Forensic dentistry, also referred to as forensic odontology, is the aspect of dentistry dealing with securing, managing, and presenting dental evidence in legal proceedings. Today, by just flipping on the television, you can see forensic dentistry at work. With mass disasters like Hurricane Katrina and 9/11 occurring around us, it's evident that we need a way to identify victims of these horrible traumas. Dental records also show restorations, extractions, surface structure/root configuration, adjacent teeth, and any other unique landmarks in a person's mouth. The key role of dental records and accurately recording findings during a dental exam by the dental hygienist in the forensic dental team are presented. Forensic dentistry is an ever expanding field with lots of interesting techniques and data.