Page 75 - Veritas

FEATURE ARTICLES

TEETH AS AN AID TO PERSONAL

IDENTIFICATION

Dr. Shayani Ghosh

Forensic Odontology plays an
important role in human iden-

tification, especially when

damage has been caused by
heat. When we talk about fo-

rensic odontology, the first
thing that crosses our mind

is the unique features of the
teeth and the dental treat-

ments which are unique to
an individual. Teeth are the

strongest part of the human
body which can withstand high explosions and are not damaged by such

incidents. Thus, teeth are likely to be recovered in mass fatality incidents

where other means of identification such as fingerprints and facial fea-
tures are destroyed. The common questions that are to be answered by a

forensic expert while handling the exhibits are:
i) If the exhibit under examination is a real tooth

ii) If the teeth belongs to a human or any other animal
iii) Is it milk or permanent teeth?

iv) Does it belong to the lower jaw or upper jaw?
v) Does the individual suffer from any particular disease?

vi) What is the age and sex of the individual?
vii) Does the tooth establish the race of the individual?

Such questions, when answered, can narrow down a single piece of ev-
idence to a definite direction. The basic morphology of a tooth consists

of enamel (outer covering), dentine (forming the bulk of tooth beneath
the enamel), and the pulp (the connective tissue that resides within the

center of the tooth). The examination of the components of a tooth will

60 VERITAS