What is Forensic Odontology?
According to the BAFO (British Association of Forensic Odontology), forensic odontology is a branch of medicine and, in the interests of justice, deals with the proper examination, handling and presentation of dental evidence in a court of law.
Forensic Odontologists also:
- Identify unknown human remains through dental records
- Assist at a scene of mass disaster
- Estimate age of both living and deceased persons
- Analyze bite marks found on victims of attack
- Identify bite marks in other substances ie. wood, leather
- Analyze weapon marks using the same principles of bite mark analysis
- Present bite and weapon mark evidence in court
-Evaluation fo Oro-facial Examination
History
The first ever recorded case that used dental identification was that of John Talbot who fell in the battle of Castillion in 1453. The first forensic Odontologist was Dr. Paul Revere. Dr. Revere identified the body of Dr. Joseph Warren. Dr. Warren was a revolutionary in 1775 and he was identified due to the silver and ivory bridge he had constructed two years prior. The first case in the United States that accepted Odontology was the Webster-Parkman case. In this case Webster allegedly stabbed and dismemebered Parkman on Nov. 23, 1849. Teeth were found fused with gold that matched Parkman's dental records. The first book written on Forensic Odontology was written by Dr. Oscar Amoedo. Dr. Oscar is also known as the father of Forensic Odontology. After 1945, the forensic Odontology has grown greatly and in many cases in the last decade or two, Odontology was the only way of identification.