Forensic odontology or forensic dentistry is a branch of forensic
science that deals with the handling, examination, and presentation of
dental evidence in court. although each person is born with the same number and type of teeth, the dental pattern of each individual is unique.
Bite marks are a valuable type of impression evidence that can be used to identify or eliminate a suspect.
The work of a forensic odontologist covers:
- Identification of unknown human remains through dental records and assisting at the scene of a mass disaster
- Age estimations of both living and deceased persons including neo-natal remains
- Analysis of bite marks found on victims of attack
- Identification of bitemarks in other substances such as wood, leather and foodstuffs
- Analysis of weapon marks using the principles of bite mark analysis
- Presentation of bite and weapon mark evidence in court as an expert witness
- Assistance in building up a picture of lifestyle and diet at an archeological site.
High-profile criminal cases
Forensic odontology has played a key role in famous criminal cases:
- Wayne Boden – an early case of Forensic Dentistry
- State of Florida v. Ted Bundy
- State of New Jersey v. Jesse Timmendequas (Megan's Law case)
- People of California v. Marx, the 1975 case which established evidentiary standards for forensic odontology
- People of Arizona v. Ray Krone, bite mark evidence led to a wrongful conviction.
Associations:
- American Society of Forensic Odontology
- American Board of Forensic Odontology
- Indiana Society of Forensic Odontology
- Australian Society of Forensic Odontology
- New Zealand Society of Forensic Odontology
Upcoming Events:
Important links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensic_dentistry
http://www.forensic-dentistry.info/wp/
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