Forensic Odontology The term “forensic” has its origin in the Latin word “forensis” from “forum,” which means a place where legal matters are discussed. The science of dentistry as related to the law is known as forensic dentistry or forensic odontology. Forensic odontology is a specialized field of dentistry related to legal problems. It is one of the most rapidly developing branches of forensic medicine and forensic science. Forensic odontology can be defined as the branch of dentistry that addresses the proper handling and examination of dental evidence and the evaluation and presentation of dental findings in the interests of justice. This relatively small specialty within the forensic sciences has been utilized for many years, principally …show more content…
The first ever case which took bite marks as evidence was of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials in which Rev. George Burroughs was accused of witchcraft and conspiring with the Devil, with biting his victims supposedly being evidence of his crimes. His bite marks and the bite marks of other people were compared to the victim 's marks. The judges readily accepted the bite marks as evidence and he was executed soon after. In fact, tooth prints have become such a powerful concept that it has become an integral concept in the Child Identification Program (CHIP), one of the most comprehensive child recovery and identification programs in the US, sponsored by the Massachusetts Freemasons and supported by the Massachusetts Dental Society. This method is so convenient and easy to do that it is comfortable for the child and there is a piece of mind for the parents as well. Besides the bite impression, tooth prints can provide important tracking information through the DNA in saliva. Salivary DNA is derived from the constant shedding of epithelial cells from the oral mucosa. There have been cases in the U.S where trained dogs were able to identify a child through the saliva in a ball room of 500
Comparing simple techniques simply to retrieve a piece of evidence is completely different as we learn more about the science and learn from the mistakes made in the past. Looking back at the 1800’s and comparing the technology of the 21st century, the difference is certainly huge. The increase in technology makes information more vast and more ideas can be shared easily. Many sciences are based off many “what ifs” while forensic science is more factual and attempt to solve puzzling occurrences and events and get down to what truly
Justice Quarterly: JQ, 15(3), 577-581. Retrieved October 6, 2017, from https://bethelu.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.bethelu.idm.oclc.org/docview/228157991?accountid=56725 Saferstein, R. (2015). Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science (11th Ed.). Boston: Pearson. Retrieved October 6, 2017, from
On November 19, 1986, Helle Crafts went missing. For a few weeks, the police were looking for her. They gathered evidence, wrote search warrants, and looked for her body. During a search of the Craft’s home, police found compelling evidence, which in turn lead the investigators to possible murder weapons.
Due to DNA testing now available many cases of wrongful conviction have led them to be exonerated, by a confession from the actual perpetrator or other convincing evidence of innocence that wasn’t available at trail. For a DNA profile to be made they must first find evidence in form of blood, saliva, skin tissue, hair and semen that was recovered from a crime
Forensic science has contributed to wrongful convictions and the correction of wrongful conviction by bringing to surface the issue of how involved flawed forensics has made an impact. In Gary Dotson case, false claims were made involving the forensics that was used throughout the case, in such cases as blood comparison and analysis of hairs. The correction to the field of forensics associated with allowing wrongful convictions to be overturned because it reveals the flaws in forensics that previous cases used to implement and by demonstrating how certain types of forensics are unreliable and invalid (Garrett, 2011). There are a few cases that the forensics completed mislead the jury because they were not showing the truth but rather flaws.
“On September 20th, 1986 a young woman was killed and, left behind at the scene, was a piece of DNA that investigators hoped would help solve the case” (Biemesderfer). There was no way to identify people yet. Nowadays, you can identify whose footprint it is by investigators and
In 1913, a case involving the identification of the remains of a man killed in a train accident was solved using dental evidence. The victim's dental records were compared to the teeth of the unidentified body, and a match was made. This case led to the development of a national database of dental records, which has since become a standard tool for forensic odontologists. During World War II, forensic odontology played a crucial role in identifying the remains of soldiers killed in battle as dental records were used to identify thousands of soldiers
Dubbed the Valley Intruder or Night Stalker, Ricardo Leyva Munoz Ramirez famously known as Richard Ramirez, struck fear through the bones of many during his serial killing spree in the mid-eighties. Ramirez killed at least fourteen people in his spree while raping and torturing many more. His criminal beginnings turned to violence in June of 1984 with his first known slaying of 79-year-old Jennie Vincow. Vincow was sexually assaulted, stabbed and ultimately killed in her home. Authorities had not yet caught Ramirez after this brutal homicide, therefore he was free to continue his spree on countless more helpless victims.
A positive aspect of this is that forensic scientists only need a small amount of a sample to get the results they need (“Forensic Science” 12). These samples can come from many other forms of identification other than fingerprints and bloodstains. A few moderate examples include strands of hair, tiny beads of sweat, and a saliva specimen (“Forensic Science” 12). Forensic Science Technicians stated that “crime scene investigators may use tweezers, black lights, and specialized kits to identify and collect evidence.” They also stated that examining autopsies prove to be beneficial in a crime investigation (“Forensic Science Technicians”
First one said, that it matched Roy Browns bite marks. Second one said it couldn’t be him because he was missing two upper teeth and it had a full set of teeth on Sabina. This suggests that it could be him but also couldn’t be him with the bite marks. In conclusion the evidence that was provided were DNA samples and the bite
Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that corrects teeth and jaws that are positioned improperly. Crooked teeth and teeth that do not fit together correctly are harder to keep clean, are at risk of being lost early due to tooth decay and periodontal disease, and cause extra stress on the chewing muscles that can lead to headaches, TMJ syndrome and neck, shoulder and back pain. Teeth that are crooked or not in the right place can also detract from one 's appearance. The benefits of orthodontic treatment include a healthier mouth, a more pleasing appearance, and teeth that are more likely to last a lifetime.
Getting a job in forensics takes the ability to incorporate all of the scientific strengths learned and the love for solving crimes. Giving expertise on legal activities also plays a major role in investigating and solving misdemeanors(“Discover Careers in Forensic Science”). Many occupations in forensics can be sometimes labeled as morbid or gruesome. Some of these careers may include, forensic crime scene investigators, coroners, anthropologists, and pathologists(forensic medical examiners)(Palmer). These professions salaries can range anywhere from 50,000 to over 200,000 a year(Kaelin).
Forensic imaging, particularly MRI technology is crucial in determining the cause of death in forensic pathology. There are a few main techniques for forensic imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT), and conventional radiography. The PMCT is generally used for gunshot wounds, detection of gas embolism, trauma cases, and changes in the skeletal system. Some advantages of this technique are that it is fast, easy to handle, good three-dimensional reconstruction, excellent visuals of the skeletal system and gases in the body. However, it is not without disadvantages like how it uses radiation, meaning companies must protect their employees, it has limited data storage, limited visualization of soft tissue and employees must go through extensive training to be authorized to operate it.
Crime scene photography, sometimes referred to as forensic photography or forensic imaging, is the art of producing an accurate representation of an accident or crime scene. Crime scene photography is an important asset in the collection of evidence at the crime scene, documents the appearance and location of victims, shell casings, footprints, bloodstain patterns, and other physical evidence. In order for photographs to be admissible in a court of law, the standard for photographs of crime scenes and evidence must be of sufficient quality. Photography has a vital role in the decision made in court because the pictures are to represent the scene as it was exactly. Digital SLR single reflex camera is the most often used camera in crime scene investigations.