NCJ Number
152632
Journal
Journal of Forensic Identification Volume: 44 Issue: 3 Dated: (May-June 1994) Pages: 254-260
Date Published
1994
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Two cases are described in which a body was identified using specific dental techniques that focused on the past management of mandibular fractures.
Abstract
The discussion notes that improvements in preventive dental techniques have increased the number of people with intact, unrestored dentitions and the number of forensic situations in which something other than a comparison of dental restorations must be used to achieve a positive identification. The first case involved remains discovered in March 1991 in Washington that were determined to those of a female Native American Indian who had died 1-4 years before. What initially appeared to be braces turned out to be arch bars used to immobilize a jaw fracture. A review of missing person reports revealed that a 41-year-old woman had been reported missing 3 years before. Based on hospital and dental records, the skull was positively identified as the missing woman. The second case involved a partial skeleton of an adult male aged 50-70 discovered in 1984. A stainless steel wire and an old, incompletely healed fracture were noted on the mandible. A survey of local nursing homes revealed that an elderly man with a history of dementia had disappeared from a care facility a year before. Medical and dental records permitted a positive identification. These cases demonstrate the use of orofacial features apart form the internal configuration of the dentition and underscore the use of specialist consultants. Photographs and 3 references