In this post from Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo, we veer a bit off the beaten path, so to speak, and examine a fascinating dental specialty; forensic dentistry.
The formal term for the use of dentistry in criminal cases and post mortem identification is forensic odontology. These professionals are rarely recognized but play a crucial role in crime and disaster investigations.
Dental X-rays, dentures, and bite marks are all used to provide clues about the victim’s identity and/or the manner of death. A person’s teeth are as singular as fingerprints and can often withstand forces such as fire, explosions, submersion in water, and natural decay without being destroyed.
Identifying One Victim
Identifying a victim through dental records is aided immensely when authorities have narrowed down a group of suspected victims to just a few people (or, ideally, just one) and can consult the dentists who had treated them. When the identity is completely unknown, a forensic dentist searches other databases such as those kept by the armed forces and prisons.
At Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo we stick to basic dentistry, but have a lot of respect for our fellow professionals. People from American Fork and Lehi come to our practice for family and cosmetic dentistry. Call for an appointment today!
Contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry:
801-374-0070
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
3575 N 100 E Ste 200
Provo, Utah
84604
