Forensic dentistry or forensic odontology is the proper handling, examination and evaluation of dental evidence, which will be then presented in the interest of justice. The evidence that may be derived from teeth, is the age (in children) and identification of the person to whom the teeth belong. This is done using dental records or ante-mortem (prior to death) photographs.The other type of evidence is that of bite marks, left on either the victim (by the attacker), the perpetrator (from the victim of an attack), or on an object found at the crime scene. Bite marks are often found on children who are abused.Forensic dentists are
responsible for six main areas of practice:·
Identification in mass fatalities·
Assessment of bite mark injuries·
Assessment of cases of abuse (child, spousal, elder)·
Civil cases involving malpractice·
Civil cases involving malpractice·
Age estimation
HOW FORENSIC DENTISTRY WORKS
Forensic dentists are either called by medical examiners or police investigators. There's a movement underway to set up emergency call-out procedures in many jurisdictions. What has happened is that someone has discovered a bite mark while conducting an autopsy or viewing the body at a crime scene. While the bite mark can be photographed or even excised from the decedent, it's better to let the forensic dentist get there as soon as possible. One of the first things they'll do is obtain a saliva sample from the bite. This, of course, can be done by others, but a forensic dentist can make sure sample extraction doesn't affect quality of the bitemark. Next, the forensic dentist will take photographs. This is a technique shared by all experts, and it's fairly important to get the lighting, color, and camera angle right. A linear (ABFO) scale should be placed somewhere in the photograph. A camera angle of 90 degrees is best for a flat surface, while a 40 degree angle causes 25% distortion of a bite mark. Next, the forensic dentist makes multiple impressions, casts, or molds of the bitemark, and has access to a variety of materials in which to choose the right gum, rubber, plastic, or powder to make a cast. Some forensic dentists used the Dorion method, which advocates the removal of bitten tissue for microscopic examination. Others use advanced techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, computer-enhanced digitization, and xeroradiology. Computerized bite analysis software also exists. Once a suspect is apprehended, the forensic dentist makes one or more impressions of the suspect's teeth, comparing them to the recorded bite marks, and if called to testify, renders an opinion of the probability of a match. Courts have upheld the constitutionality of involuntarily taking a dental impression from a suspect, as they have for most biological specimens from suspects The THEORY behind forensic dentistry is that no two mouths are alike (even identical twins are different), and that teeth, like tools, leave recognizable marks. A bitemark, however, is not an accurate representation of the teeth. A lot depends on the mechanics of jaw movement and use of the tongue. Inside the mouth, the lower jaw (mandible) is movable and usually delivers the most biting force. The upper jaw (maxilla) is stationary, holding and stretching the skin, but when skin is ripped or torn, the upper teeth are involved more deeply. Most bitemarks usually show a curvature where the upper teeth, at least, made an impression.
ليست هناك تعليقات:
إرسال تعليق