Forensic Odontology Essay
INTRODUCTION
• The discipline of forensic odontology involves the application of extensive dental specific knowledge to legal and criminal issues. It focuses primarily on personal identification, mass disaster identification, age estimation and analysis of bite marks.
• The ideal forensic odontologist is a person
1. Who is educated in dentistry, has been trained in forensic odontology, is engaged in research in the same or related subject and has published papers to his credit
2. Who has been initiated to the specialty though the training and attachment for considerable time to renowned and experienced forensic odontologist in a respected dental institution where forensic odontology work is routine.
3. Who has acquired ample practical experience …show more content…
in forensic odontology during his attachment period and later.
4. Who is interested in the field and takes up the professional challenges seriously.
5. Who has no preconceived idea about the outcome of examination. He starts examination with open mind. Collects both positive and negative data and goes by the preponderance of the data.
6. Who furnishes his reports on the bases of adequate data, for which minimal is fixed by the professional community.
7. Who informs the court about the tools and technique used and indicate the salient observations of the work.
8. Who generates the data using latest proven and well established tls and techniques, being used and accepted by fellow professionals in the field.
9. Who abides by the standards recognized by his professional fraternity.
10. He does not accept the dictate of intuition, hunch or supernatural revelations.
11. Who remains a man of science. His interferences flow from the observations he made during the examination.
12. Who has no enemy to punish and no friends to save.
13. Who is immune to temptation, influence and bias.
14. Who is aware of the conformational syndrome, considers it and avoids it scrupulously.
15. Who has a liaison with forensic pathologist, forensic anthropologist and fellow forensic odontologist. He consults them in all refractory and border line cases.
16. Whose report is in simple words, easily intelligible to and ordinary educated person and without any double meaning or ambiguity.
17. Whose conclusions are clear and fall in one of the following categories:
a. Positive
b. Probable
c. No report (data insufficient)
PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS NEEDED A forensic odontologist needs to have:
• Broad dental experience
• Sound knowledge in dental anatomy and pathology, and comparative dental anatomy
• Sound underpinning knowledge in the natural sciences
• Sound knowledge of the law and relevant legislation
• A methodical and analytical approach
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to practice as part of a team as well as autonomously
• A high level of self motivation
• Ability to formulate and articulate well-balanced views
• Patience and attention to detail
• Emotional stability
• An understanding of aspects of bereavement
• An enjoyment and appreciation of the scientific basis of dentistry
• The ability to communicate well orally and in writing
• The ability and willingness to offer guidance and teaching to trainees in forensic odontology
• An inquiring mind, to initiate ethical research
• Personal honesty and integrity
THE EXPERTISE
• Forensic odontology can be divided in to following categories on the basis of what are the question, clues and what can be accomplished by a forensic odontologist from the referred clues for linkage with the source of origin and give other forensically important information:
1.
Dentition or its parts.
2. Bite marks identification and that of the bitter.
3. Development and eruption of teeth for determination of age.
4. Profile development from dentition.
DENTITION AND ITS PARTS
• Forensic odontology is doing a Yeoman`s job in the identification of persons from skeletal remains from sources: drowned, burned, dismembered bodies found in various situations including those in mass murders and mass disasters like tsunami, fires or buried skeletons or parts thereof, bodies thrown in wells or pits, bodies or their parts from abundant bodies in deserted places like ravines, jungle, …show more content…
deserts.
• The science has come a long way since it started identifying skeleton remains. Today it is one of the important major tasks of the forensic odontologist. He often succeeds to give definite identification of the decreased if the ante-mortem dental data of the possible suspect is available. Dentition perhaps provides the most frequent and certain type of evidence to identify skeletal remains.
• The process is laborious but highly rewarding.
The forensic odontologist who can carry out the following drill is eligible for the job:
1. Examines photographs, x rays, sketches, prepares casts, dentures transparencies and takes detailed notes of the questioned
2. Prepares positive casts from the negative casts procured from the dentist. Compares the positive casts with the questioned dentition.
3. Prepares transparencies from one of the casts and superimposes it on the corresponding casts. Superimposed casts are to prove match or non match f the dentition.
4. Generates complete dental profile chart of the questioned dentition and include all the identifying features of each tooth, pattern of the teeth and of the dentition as a whole.
5. Procures the ante-mortem dental data of the suspect which includes written notes, sketches, dental casts, denture and detail of the dental work done, with dates from the subjects dentist via police. The SIT chief obtains the dental data from the subjects, dentist with or without the help of a forensic odontologist.
6. Compares the prepared dental profile from the available dentition and other generated data with the data from the dentist’s record, tooth by tooth, corresponding combination of teeth and dentition. The preponderance of the alike or non-alike features decides identity or exclusion of the suspected
person.
7. Consults the subject`s dentist and other specialists in the field whenever possible. This is a “must” in refractory and borderline cases.
8. He accounts for oddities, if any.
9. Writes a lucid, unambiguous and intelligible report and conclusions in case of general agreement.
• There is no fixed number of matching points in forensic odontology identification as in forensic ballistics. The nature of evidence is such that even one malformed or broken or repaired tooth may provide clinching evidence. It is equally possible that the whole dentition may not provide the adequate evidence to furnish definite opinion. The later proposition is rather rare.
EDUCATION
• The first necessity is to get a doctorate of dental science degree. This degree is a sign that the holder is indeed an educated and trained dentist. This will require to first graduate with a bachelor's degree, preferably in pre-medicine or another similar field.
LICENSE
• The next necessary step is to take to become a forensic dentist is to be licensed as a practicing dentist. Licenses are granted by dental council of India on a state by- state basis, and they require that the dentist applying for the license have a degree from an accredited university in addition to passing a number of written and practical examinations.
.
MISCELLANEOUS REQUIREMENTS
• While the necessary license and education are both important things for a forensic dentist to have, there are other skills and attributes that can make them even more qualified. Forensic odontologist should possess good physical dexterity, clear vision and the ability to distinguish various shades of color for starters. Additionally, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, excellent communication skills, both written and oral, are necessary for explaining what the forensic dentist found in the way of helpful evidence. Finally, a diagnostic outlook is another necessary skill that a forensic odontologist should possess.
FORENSIC REQUIREMENTS
• Once a dentist is licensed and can practice, he needs to meet a few other prerequisites to become a forensic dentist. The American Association of Forensic Science requires that a forensic odontologist must work up to 25 cases and accumulate 350 qualification points by attending meetings and training sessions. The hopeful forensic dentist must also shadow a more senior professional and pass a written exam to be certified by the AAFS as a forensic dentist.
• The discipline of forensic odontology involves the application of extensive dental specific knowledge to legal and criminal issues. It focuses primarily on personal identification, mass disaster identification, age estimation and analysis of bite marks.
• The ideal forensic odontologist is a person
1. Who is educated in dentistry, has been trained in forensic odontology, is engaged in research in the same or related subject and has published papers to his credit
2. Who has been initiated to the specialty though the training and attachment for considerable time to renowned and experienced forensic odontologist in a respected dental institution where forensic odontology work is routine.
3. Who has acquired ample practical experience …show more content…
in forensic odontology during his attachment period and later.
4. Who is interested in the field and takes up the professional challenges seriously.
5. Who has no preconceived idea about the outcome of examination. He starts examination with open mind. Collects both positive and negative data and goes by the preponderance of the data.
6. Who furnishes his reports on the bases of adequate data, for which minimal is fixed by the professional community.
7. Who informs the court about the tools and technique used and indicate the salient observations of the work.
8. Who generates the data using latest proven and well established tls and techniques, being used and accepted by fellow professionals in the field.
9. Who abides by the standards recognized by his professional fraternity.
10. He does not accept the dictate of intuition, hunch or supernatural revelations.
11. Who remains a man of science. His interferences flow from the observations he made during the examination.
12. Who has no enemy to punish and no friends to save.
13. Who is immune to temptation, influence and bias.
14. Who is aware of the conformational syndrome, considers it and avoids it scrupulously.
15. Who has a liaison with forensic pathologist, forensic anthropologist and fellow forensic odontologist. He consults them in all refractory and border line cases.
16. Whose report is in simple words, easily intelligible to and ordinary educated person and without any double meaning or ambiguity.
17. Whose conclusions are clear and fall in one of the following categories:
a. Positive
b. Probable
c. No report (data insufficient)
PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS NEEDED A forensic odontologist needs to have:
• Broad dental experience
• Sound knowledge in dental anatomy and pathology, and comparative dental anatomy
• Sound underpinning knowledge in the natural sciences
• Sound knowledge of the law and relevant legislation
• A methodical and analytical approach
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to practice as part of a team as well as autonomously
• A high level of self motivation
• Ability to formulate and articulate well-balanced views
• Patience and attention to detail
• Emotional stability
• An understanding of aspects of bereavement
• An enjoyment and appreciation of the scientific basis of dentistry
• The ability to communicate well orally and in writing
• The ability and willingness to offer guidance and teaching to trainees in forensic odontology
• An inquiring mind, to initiate ethical research
• Personal honesty and integrity
THE EXPERTISE
• Forensic odontology can be divided in to following categories on the basis of what are the question, clues and what can be accomplished by a forensic odontologist from the referred clues for linkage with the source of origin and give other forensically important information:
1.
Dentition or its parts.
2. Bite marks identification and that of the bitter.
3. Development and eruption of teeth for determination of age.
4. Profile development from dentition.
DENTITION AND ITS PARTS
• Forensic odontology is doing a Yeoman`s job in the identification of persons from skeletal remains from sources: drowned, burned, dismembered bodies found in various situations including those in mass murders and mass disasters like tsunami, fires or buried skeletons or parts thereof, bodies thrown in wells or pits, bodies or their parts from abundant bodies in deserted places like ravines, jungle, …show more content…
deserts.
• The science has come a long way since it started identifying skeleton remains. Today it is one of the important major tasks of the forensic odontologist. He often succeeds to give definite identification of the decreased if the ante-mortem dental data of the possible suspect is available. Dentition perhaps provides the most frequent and certain type of evidence to identify skeletal remains.
• The process is laborious but highly rewarding.
The forensic odontologist who can carry out the following drill is eligible for the job:
1. Examines photographs, x rays, sketches, prepares casts, dentures transparencies and takes detailed notes of the questioned
2. Prepares positive casts from the negative casts procured from the dentist. Compares the positive casts with the questioned dentition.
3. Prepares transparencies from one of the casts and superimposes it on the corresponding casts. Superimposed casts are to prove match or non match f the dentition.
4. Generates complete dental profile chart of the questioned dentition and include all the identifying features of each tooth, pattern of the teeth and of the dentition as a whole.
5. Procures the ante-mortem dental data of the suspect which includes written notes, sketches, dental casts, denture and detail of the dental work done, with dates from the subjects dentist via police. The SIT chief obtains the dental data from the subjects, dentist with or without the help of a forensic odontologist.
6. Compares the prepared dental profile from the available dentition and other generated data with the data from the dentist’s record, tooth by tooth, corresponding combination of teeth and dentition. The preponderance of the alike or non-alike features decides identity or exclusion of the suspected
person.
7. Consults the subject`s dentist and other specialists in the field whenever possible. This is a “must” in refractory and borderline cases.
8. He accounts for oddities, if any.
9. Writes a lucid, unambiguous and intelligible report and conclusions in case of general agreement.
• There is no fixed number of matching points in forensic odontology identification as in forensic ballistics. The nature of evidence is such that even one malformed or broken or repaired tooth may provide clinching evidence. It is equally possible that the whole dentition may not provide the adequate evidence to furnish definite opinion. The later proposition is rather rare.
EDUCATION
• The first necessity is to get a doctorate of dental science degree. This degree is a sign that the holder is indeed an educated and trained dentist. This will require to first graduate with a bachelor's degree, preferably in pre-medicine or another similar field.
LICENSE
• The next necessary step is to take to become a forensic dentist is to be licensed as a practicing dentist. Licenses are granted by dental council of India on a state by- state basis, and they require that the dentist applying for the license have a degree from an accredited university in addition to passing a number of written and practical examinations.
.
MISCELLANEOUS REQUIREMENTS
• While the necessary license and education are both important things for a forensic dentist to have, there are other skills and attributes that can make them even more qualified. Forensic odontologist should possess good physical dexterity, clear vision and the ability to distinguish various shades of color for starters. Additionally, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, excellent communication skills, both written and oral, are necessary for explaining what the forensic dentist found in the way of helpful evidence. Finally, a diagnostic outlook is another necessary skill that a forensic odontologist should possess.
FORENSIC REQUIREMENTS
• Once a dentist is licensed and can practice, he needs to meet a few other prerequisites to become a forensic dentist. The American Association of Forensic Science requires that a forensic odontologist must work up to 25 cases and accumulate 350 qualification points by attending meetings and training sessions. The hopeful forensic dentist must also shadow a more senior professional and pass a written exam to be certified by the AAFS as a forensic dentist.