Forensic Odontology - also known as forensic dentistry - is essentially concerned with identifying an assailant from their dentition (set of teeth). This would usually be accomplished by comparing dental records to physical bite marks left on a victim.

Additionally, forensic odontology can be used in cases of dental malpractice, medical / legal analysis of trauma to oral tissues and also in identifying human remains.

Whilst regular dentists are often used in court cases as “expert witnesses”, certified forensic odontonlogists carry a much heavier weight when presenting their findings due to their extensive training in the legal side of dentistry.

Making positive identifications through the use of dentistry is not a new concept. In fact the Romans are documented as having used forensic odontology as far back as 66 A.D.

History tells us that Nero’s mother, Agrippina, ordered her soldiers to kill Lollia Paulina. Her head was to be brought back to Agrippina in order to prove that the murder had indeed been carried out.

When presented with the head Agrippina was not able to make a positive identification and so examined a tooth which she knew to be discoloured. On discovering that the head she examined had the same discolouration to the same tooth she was able to positively identify it as belonging to Paulinna.

During the U.S. Revolution Paul Revere, a dentist himself, used forensic odontology - identifying battlefield casualties by their bridgework.

However, it wasn’t until a case of People vs. Marx in 1975 that forensic odontology became more mainstream and standardised. The standard produced is quoted below -

In making their painstaking comparisons and reaching their conclusions, the experts did not rely on untested methods, unproven hypotheses, intuition or revelation. Rather, they applied scientifically and professionally established techniques - x-rays, models, microscopy, photography - to the solution of a particular problem which, though novel, was well within the capability of those techniques. In short, in admitting the evidence, the court did not have to sacrifice it’s independance and common sense in evaluating it.

The reason why forensic odontology is a popular means of identification is that teeth are highly resistant to destruction. In fact, dental records were used to identify many victims of 9/11 and also the likes of Adolf Hitler at the end of WWII.