For all you crime scene investigation show lovers out there, have you ever wondered if dentistry plays a part in identifying human remains? Well, it does and it’s called forensic odontology or more informally known as forensic dentistry. Forensic odontology was defined by Keiser-Nielsen in 1970 as “that branch of forensic medicine which in the interest of justice deals with the proper handling and examination of dental evidence and with the proper evaluation and presentation of the dental findings.” Forensic odontologists, in simple terms, are highly experienced, specially trained dentists that assist in identifying human remains. This branch of forensic science is used when human remains can’t be identified using face recognition, fingerprints, or other means.
In order to become a forensic odontologist you must first receive a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) or a Doctor of Dental Science (DDS). To specialize in this field it takes extensive additional training. In order to become board certified by the American Board of Forensic Odontology, dentists must accumulate 350 qualification points by attending meetings and other professional development programs, work 32 forensic cases, and pass a qualifying exam. To learn more about what it takes to become a forensic odontologist, visit http://abfo.org/.
Roseman University has their very own dental faculty – Rebecca Love, DDS – who is experienced in forensic dentistry and was part of a major crime scene investigation back in the early 90’s known as the Branch Davidian case, also more commonly known as the Waco tragedy, that took place in Waco, Texas. Love was part of the Fort Worth District Dental Society Mass Disaster Team consisting of 51 dentists that were called into help identify approximately 57 adults and 17 children according to Love.
Dentists, such as Love, were called in to assist because the bodies were burned past the point of recognition. In an article that Love and her team wrote in 
1993 titled “The Aftermath of Koresh’s Waco: Labeling, Reconstruction, Identification,” they explained that “the remains of the deceased were in exceptionally poor condition because the fire burned for nearly three days, reaching temperatures of more than 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, nearly cremation temperature.”
According to a journal article titled “Role of dental expert in forensic odontology” published in the National Journal of Maxillofacial Surgery “Teeth are the most durable parts in the body and can be heated to temperature of [2912 degrees Fahrenheit] without appreciable loss of microstructure. Teeth can survive virtually intact long after other soft tissue and skeletal tissue have been destroyed by decay or incineration.”
Even with the durability of teeth, the fire was so bad that few dental structures remained and those that remained could only be detected by X-rays.
To add to this already difficult situation Love stated that “dental records came in from all over the world; Australia, United Kingdom, Israel, South Pacific, as well as the US. There [was] no universal tooth numbering system, so we had to scour the dental records for x-rays and decipher the doctor’s notes to determine which teeth had restorations.”
According to an article written by Love titled “Forensic Dentistry: ‘Branch Davidian’ Identifications” 40 out of the 74 bodies were positively identified and of those 40, 35 were made from dental identification. Love went on to state that “the children were aged according to dental structures, making their identification by DNA analysis much simpler. Due to the contributions of the many dentists involved, the science of forensic odontology [was] once again . . . elevated in the world of the forensic sciences.”
As you can see forensic dentistry plays a vast part in crime scene investigation cases such as the Waco tragedy. However, It’s contribution to society doesn’t stop there. Forensic odontology also comes into play when bodies of mass fatalities, such as plane crashes and natural disasters, need to be identified.
One example of a mass fatalities incident is 9/11. According to an article written by Dental Practice Management, “Dr. Jeffrey Burkes, chief forensic dental consultant to the medical examiner’s office in New York City, said that in the early days and weeks following the attacks, about 40 dentists worked on the forensic effort at the office in New York City each day. Most worked eight-hour shifts. Working 12-hour shifts and reporting to Dr. Burkes were tour commanders — forensic dentists with significant experience in the field. In addition to the complement of dentists from DMORT teams (Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Teams) and full-time staff at the medical examiner’s office, Dr. Burkes [had] utilized close to 100 dental volunteers.”
The 9/11 instance is just one more example of how forensic dentistry has played an integral part in helping to identify human remains who would have otherwise gone unidentified.
In addition to the aforementioned roles of forensic dentistry, it also is used to determine the source of bite mark injuries, in cases of assault or suspected abuse, and estimate the age of skeletal remains. Forensic dentistry will continue to be an invaluable part of identifying human remains and assist in bringing closure to families across the US and the world.
Author
Rachael Wadley, MBA
Marketing Director
Roseman University of Health Sciences