NCJ Number
158816
Journal
Journal of Forensic Identification Volume: 45 Issue: 6 Dated: (November/December 1995) Pages: 606-611
Date Published
1995
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Dental identification appears to be one of the better methods of victim identification when the body is badly burned, decomposed, skeletonized, or macerated but requires one basic element that may not always be available--antemortem records.
Abstract
With the increased use of fluoride and the decreased incidence of dental caries, the number of dental restorations will decline and the mindset in dental analysis must therefore change from teeth to identification. Case studies illustrate the use of dental identification in death investigations but also illustrate how the absence of adequate antemortem dental records can prevent a positive identification. 4 figures