Forensic odontology refers to the science and practice of dentistry which may be applied to help solve litigation in both criminal and civil cases. It is a specialist branch of dentistry that assists the legal system in the handling, analysis and interpretation of dental evidence. Forensic Odontology: Principles and Practice pulls together the very latest research findings and advice on best practice and essential skills, including aspects of forensic science that provide a well-rounded educational experience for the reader. Chapters provide coverage of anatomy and morphology, mortuary techniques, physical anthropology, applied forensic sciences, child and elder abuse, and facial approximation. The text introduces the various topics and discusses underpinning philosophies without being an exhaustive historical treatise. Appropriate case studies are used to highlight issues, and references to current research are provided to stimulate further reading and research. Written by experienced practitioners in the field, this informative introductory text is invaluable to graduate and undergraduate students, as well as experienced dentists, wishing to gain experience or pursue a career in forensic odontology. This text will be a welcome addition to the forensic odontological libraries of all practicing forensic odontologists.

Recent years have witnessed significant advances in forensic odontology. This book presents basic concepts in the field and describes all the standard examination procedures currently employed in the acquisition of dental evidence. Detailed information is provided on the identification of unknown individuals, the application of forensic dentistry in mass disasters and multiple fatality incidents, the role of dental evidence in child abuse investigations, and the analysis of bite mark evidence. Other features of the book are a series of high-profile cases, clear advice on the writing of legal reports, and discussion of the significance of DNA and oral fluid in forensic odontology. The text is supplemented by numerous high-quality figures, many of them in color. This book will be invaluable for dental examiners and pathologists, legal and police science professionals, and dentists who want to use their training and experience in an interesting and challenging way.

Identification of unknown individuals and the determination of their age, race, and sex is one of the most important functions of forensic dentistry. Throughout history, this procedure has been used to establish difficult identifications, including Adolph Hitler, Eva Braun, Lee Harvey Oswald, and actor William Holden. Other essential applications of forensic dentistry include mass disaster investigations, evaluating bite marks and bitemark evidence in death investigations, child abuse investigations, and in civil litigation for evaluating oral or temporomandibular injuries related to accidents. This book explains these procedures in a comprehensive way that takes you step-by-step through the world of forensic dental investigations. The areas of forensic dentistry have come a long way in recent years. New and unique discussions offer information that will benefit professionals faced with many of the current aspects of the science. Topics include how to deal with a trial or an aggressive attorney and how to assess buried crime scene evidence (the application of forensic geotaphonomy in forensic archaeology). Forensic Dentistry illustrates the proper handling and evaluation of dental evidence. Its broad coverage also includes important information for legal and police science professionals who must properly evaluate and present dental findings. This book covers all standard examination practices of dental evidence, including identification of unknown individuals (age, race, sex). Whether you are a medical examiner or a pathologist who needs to know about the proper handling and evaluation of dental evidence, a legal or police science professional who needs to know how to deal with the proper presentation of dental findings in a court of law, or a dentist who wants to use your training and experience in a unique, interesting, and challenging way, this book is for you!

The identification of unknown individuals and the estimation of age, race, and gender are among the chief functions of forensic dentistry. Other important applications include the investigation and analysis of bitemarks and oral injuries in abuse cases and evaluating, reporting, and testifying in civil litigation cases. Twelve years after the benchmark first edition of this book explored these topics, the long-awaited Forensic Dentistry, Second Edition offers a comprehensive update and revision of the material. Offering insight from many new contributors on the cutting edge of forensic science and odontology, this new edition expands the book’s scope to include a broader historical and theoretical analysis, a thorough assessment of the past decade’s developments, and a far-reaching projection of future trends. New topics in the second edition include: Forensic dental radiography Age estimation Jurisprudence and legal issues History of forensic dentistry Landmark cases, including September 11th and Hurricane Katrina In order for forensic odontology to continue to progress as a specialty of forensic science, there must be a consistent stream of new ideas and original and applied research. Heavily illustrated and enhanced with a 16-page color insert with additional photos, this volume captures the critical issues that confront today’s forensic dentist, explores the field’s limitations, and provides a window on the future of this crucial sector within the forensic identification science arena.

Advances in forensic odontology have led to improvements in dental identification for individual cases as well as in disaster victim identification (DVI). New and updated technologies mean advances in bitemark analysis and age estimation. Growth in the field has strengthened missing persons networks leading to more and faster identifications of un

Forensic Odontology: Principles and Practice details the aspects necessary to become an accomplished forensic odontologist, including an illustration of the skills necessary to become an expert witness. The book is ideal for both the experienced and novice forensic odontologist, covering many fields of expertise, including civil and criminal matters. The civil side involves standard of care and personal injury matters, while the criminal side involves not only dental identification, but management of mass fatality incidents, age assessment, child and elder abuse, and bitemark analysis. - Provides a comprehensive review of forensic odontology, including the skills necessary to become a competent expert witness - Covers the fields of forensic odontology, the basic skills, legal aspects, legal precedents, report writing and expert witness testimony - Includes numerous illustrations, including charts and graphs, along with B&W and color images