Forensic Odontologist
Definition
A licensed dentist with additional training in the application of dental science to legal questions, acting as an expert witness and consultant to death investigators, courts, and disaster identification teams.
- Base qualification
- Licensed dentist
- Added training
- Application of dental science to legal questions
- Roles
- Expert witness, consultant to investigators and courts
- Disaster work
- Member of disaster identification teams
Common questions
What kinds of cases call for a forensic odontologist beyond bite mark analysis?+
Dental records and radiographs are used for identifying unknown remains, estimating age from tooth development or wear, and in mass fatality incidents alongside DNA and fingerprints, so casework extends well past the contested area of bite mark comparison.
Why has bite mark identification become controversial within the field?+
Studies have shown skin distorts bite marks and that examiners can disagree on whether an injury is even a human bite, leading several scientific bodies to call for the technique's evidentiary weight to be sharply limited or excluded.
Related terms
- ABFO
- American Board of Forensic Odontology: the specialty certification body in the United States that examines and certifies forensic odontologists as Diplomates, and...
- Bite-Mark Swab
- A DNA swab taken from a bite-mark wound on skin, capturing salivary DNA deposited by the biter, which can then be profiled...
- Dental Loupes
- Magnifying spectacles worn by dentists and forensic odontologists during examination, providing 2.5x to 4.5x magnification that makes fine details of restorations and...
- Digital Periapical Radiograph
- A dental X-ray image captured on a sensor rather than film, immediately available as a digital file that can be transmitted, stored,...
- PLASS DATA
- The international DVI charting and data-management software used to record and reconcile ante-mortem and post-mortem dental data during mass-casualty identification operations, accepted...