Forensic Odontology

Editors Jane A. Taylor Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Australia Jules A. Kieser (Deceased) Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, New Zealand

• Contributors xivDedications xviPreface xviii1 Foundation knowledge in forensic odontology 1Jules A. Kieser, Jane A. Taylor, Zaf Khouri and Maurice ChurtonIntroduction 1A short history of forensic odontology 2Forensic odontology in Australia 5Forensic odontology in New Zealand 10Working as an odontologist 19References 202 Jurisprudence and forensic practice 23David L. RansonLegal systems and the healthcare community 23Types of law 28The coronial system 32The investigators within the coroner’s jurisdiction 38Court procedures and the expert medical witness 41Report writing 57Reference 63Recommended reading 633 Anatomy and morphology 64Mark Leedham and Erin F. HutchinsonDental anatomy and morphology 64Osteology of the juvenile and adult craniofacial complex 77References 1304 Forensic pathology 134David L. Ranson and Norman FirthThe role of the forensic pathologist 134The medico‐legal autopsy 135Radiological examination 140External examination 141Internal examination 144Post‐autopsy procedures 154Injuries 155Injury and cause of death 165References 166Recommended reading 1665 Human identification 167Stephen KnottHuman identification 167Methods of identification 168Human dentition 169Role of the primary identifiers 171Ante‐mortem dental data 173Radiographic images: facial sinuses and anatomical features within the bone 176Superimposition 178Facial reconstruction 179References 1836 Mortuary techniques 185Alain G. MiddletonThe dental post‐mortem 185Components of a dental post‐mortem 186Equipment – basic requirements 186‘Tools of the trade’ 188Radiographic equipment 192CT scanning equipment 192Teeth for DNA analysis 192The ‘what and how’ 193Recording of the findings 197Procedure – putting it all together 203Reporting recording of results 207Reference 2087 Age assessment 209Richard Bassed, Jeremy Graham and Jane A. TaylorIntroduction 209Some history of age assessment 211A brief review of dental development 212Developments in dental‐age assessment 214Current age‐estimation methods 215Australasian specific research in dental age estimation 217Concluding remarks 221References 2248 Bite marks 228Alex Forrest and Alistair SoonIntroduction 228Describing bite marks 229The process of biting and how it relates to bite marks 235The individuality of the dentition and its transfer to the bite mark 236Imaging in bite mark cases 238Undertaking the case 249Presenting bite mark evidence in court 273Sources of potential distortion and error in bite mark cases 275Limitations of bite mark analysis and reporting the outcomes of bite mark comparisons 277Can we determine the age of the biter from the injury arch dimensions? 279Can we visually age bite marks? 280Swabbing for DNA 280Conclusion 281Future directions 282References 2839 Forensic odontology in disaster victim identification 286Hugh G. TrengroveDisasters and disaster planning 286DVI phase 1: the Scene phase 298DVI phase 2: the Post‐mortem phase 310DVI phase 3: the Ante‐mortem phase 323DVI phase 4: the Reconciliation phase 327DVI phase 5: the Debrief 331References 33510 Forensic anthropology 336Denise Donlon, Russell Lain and Jane A. TaylorThe scope of forensic anthropology 336Assessment of ancestry 336Assessment of sex 339Sexual dimorphism in the dentition 342Assessment of age 343Comparative anatomy 344Historical remains 347Conclusion 351References 35111 Applied forensic sciences 355David C. Kieser, Terry Lyn Eberhardt, Gemma Dickson and J. Neil WaddellIntroduction 355Crime scene protocols 356Forensic entomology 358Forensic microbial aquatic taphonomy 363The use of energy‐dispersive spectroscopy in forensic investigations 369References 37512 Odontology opinions 377Denice Higgins and Helen JamesIntroduction 377General principles 377Types of opinions 379Report writing 399References 40013 Forensic odontology management 402Helen James and Denice HigginsIntroduction 402Administration 402Education 414Research 415Conclusion 416References 41714 Application of post‐mortem computed tomography to forensic odontology 419Richard Bassed and Eleanor BottIntroduction 419Computed tomography and medico‐legal death investigation 421Application of PMCT to odontology 423Computed tomography and Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) 428Conclusion 435References 435Index 438