Odontology Case Study

NTCC Programme: Summer Internship

Role of Odontology in the identification of victims of mass disasters

Submitted By Submitted To

Aastha Khatri Ms. Neha Tomar

M.Sc FS IIIrd semester

A590111402

Table of Contents

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 What classifies as a mass disaster?

1.2 What is forensic odontology?

1.2.1 History

1.2.2 Basic structure of human dentition

1.2.3 Types of teeth

1.2.4 Dental anomalies

1.2.4.1 Size

1.2.4.2 Shape

1.2.4.3 Number

1.2.5 Importance of teeth

1.2.6 Applications

1.2.6.1 Comparison studies

1.2.6.2 Determination of Age

1.2.6.3 Determination of Race/ Ethnicity

1.2.6.4 Determination of Gender

2 REVIEW LITERATURE

3 METHODOLOGY

3.1 Teams

3.2 Dental charting

4 CASE STUDIES

4.1 Thailand

By definition, a disaster is an event of a high magnitude which causes severe damage to life and property. When the loss of life exceeds more than 10 persons, it is classified as a mass disaster.

1.2 What is forensic odontology?

Forensic Odontology is the application of dentistry in legal proceedings deriving from ANY evidence that pertains to teeth. It also provides an important service to the community in both civil and criminal jurisdictions when identification is required of human remains that are either decomposed, visually unrecognizable or mutilated.

Civil- Identification of individuals unidentifiable by visual means in cases of mass disasters, whether natural such as tsunamis, earthquakes, etc or man-made such as plane crashes.

Criminal- Every set of teeth is unique whether in shape or size. Certain anomalies further individualizes teeth and thus can be used to trace down suspects in criminal cases of assault, homicide etc. Bite marks usually found on victims are documented and comparison studies are carried

They differ in morphology and function. There are mainly 4 types of teeth in the human dentition. They are:

i. Incisors-

• Single, conically-rooted teeth with relatively sharp and thin edges which essentially mean they can be used to make an incision or cut.

• Present at the forefront, there are 8 incisors in total; two on each side of the midline on both maxillary and mandibular jaws.

• Incisors on either side of the midline are called central incisors and teeth neighbouring them are called lateral incisors.

• Functions include cutting of food, speech and aesthetics.

• Age of eruption is between 6-8 months in deciduous and 6-8 years in permanent dentition.

ii. Canines or cuspids-

• Single cusps are present and are located at the corner of the anterior teeth, thus also known as cornerstones of the dental arch.

• There are a total of 4 canines; one in each quadrant adjacent to the lateral incisors.

• They are the longest teeth in the human dentition and also have the longest root.

• Functions include holding and tearing food.

• Age of eruption between 16-18 months in deciduous and 9-11 years in permanent