Dentistry fulfills one of its most important social, moral, and professional obligations by applying its unique knowledge and expertise to the task of identifying countless persons who are tragic victims of fires, catastrophes, disasters, and homicides. Identification must proceed along the lines of gathering as much reliable evidence as possible and utilizing this evidence in an attempt to establish a positive identification. Positive body identification may be ascertained via visual means, fingerprint records, dental charts, radiographs, and study models. Visual examination includes hair and eye comparison, noting all distinguishable scars, tattoos, and birthmarks, and, most importantly, recognizing outstanding facial features overlying bony structure, which has maintained its anatomic outline.
When visual identification is impossible, fingerprints and footprints are taken from the body and sent to the appropriate local, city, and federal agencies for a positive comparison match. Many times, however, a body undergoing severe decomposition, mutilated via a sudden, high-impact explosive accident, and/ or subjected to high-intensity fire will make it impossible to finalize a visual and fingerprint identification. The forensic odontologist is then called upon to render his or her expertise in the area of oral identification. The oral remains and associated facial bones are identified, charted, x-rayed, and if necessary, anatomically repositioned to produce within reasonable certainty and facsimile the victim’s ante mortem facial and oral structure.
As with any investigation procedure, the forensic dentist must rely upon the evidence available at the time of ante mortem and post mortem dental comparison. Post mortem findings, whether a single tooth, bits of crowns and/or roots, or portions of jaw or facial bones, will be closely examined and compared to any available ante mortem evidence on hand. The ante mortem evidence will hopefully include the victim’s dental charts, radiographs, and, if possible, study models. All charts should include dates of treatment, with special attention given to dates of radiographs taken.
The approximate age of the victim is established as soon as possible. Approximate age may be determined by radiographs of deciduous, mixed, and adult dentition. The sequential, 8-step, third molar eruption cycle is used to determine approximate age from 14 to 23 years. Skeletal remains of the skull, mandible, and torso reveal distinct, age-related findings. Fontanelle, soft and hard depressions, closure of the cranial sutures, coronoid process, condylar head, attrition and abrasion of the dentition, and width of pubic and long bone epiphyseal growth pattern are all pathogonomic in determining approximate age. Age determination is critical to the investigative process.
Upon establishing a positive identification, a legal death certificate can be issued. From a legal standpoint, wills can now be probated and insurance claims granted. Many deaths are the result of mass disasters (plane crashes, eg, flight 800 and flight 587), acts of nature (earthquakes), mass suicides or sudden unexpected catastrophes (Jonestown), and attacks such as those involving the World Trade Center and Pentagon. These have the potential of inflicting hundreds and even thousands of fatalities. Immediate identification and subsequent burial are imperative, not only to bring closure but also to avoid typhoid, dysentery, and other health-related hazards brought on by rapidly decomposing bodies. The added threat of worldwide terrorism capable of causing many deaths has now become a major problem facing the forensic community. Citizens or aliens alike lacking fingerprints and dental records pose a serious problem of identification. Special attention when treating all patients should be exercised at the examination visit, whereby an accurate charting of all usual and unusual dental findings is noted and recorded. Our task now takes on a more urgent and magnified meaning.
THE PRACTICING DENTIST’S ROLE
Ample time must be allowed at the first dental patient visit to judiciously and painstakingly record all the dental findings. Poignant information noted in the past and present medical history is of vital importance to the identification process. Areas of special interest would be a period of hospitalization requiring surgery, emergency room x-rays, and CT or MRI scans.
Many times the forensic dentist leans toward the unusual findings to establish a positive identification. This category will include, to mention a few, areas of dense buccal and gingival pigmentation, palatal and mandibular tori, dento-facial deformities (eg, microgenia), rotated or malposed teeth, and most importantly, any anterior diastemas. In June of 1985, a team of West German and American forensic specialists was called to Brazil to identify the remains of World War II criminal Dr. Josef Mengele, the notorious Angel of Death. Among one of many corroborating features unique to this identification was a prominent, 4-mm diastema located between the upper anterior central incisors. Hospital A/M x-rays taken in 1939 were compared to P/M x-rays of the victim. A titanium pin in the left ankle was a positive match.
Radiographic interpretation will only be as diagnostic as the clarity and contrast of the radiograph taken. Clarity, contrast, and proper angulation will help contribute to the overall identification process. Periapical, bite-wing, occlusal, lateral plates, and A/P Waters views of the skull may all be used to facilitate the identification process. Proper angulation is critical to the radiographic interpretation of root length, bone trabecular pattern, thickness of periodontal membrane and ligament, and overall pulp morphology. The Panorex, though a valuable office adjunct, does not lend itself well to the forensic process due to its lack of anterior contrast and clarity. A body in post-death rigor mortis will exhibit severe facial contraction. This chemical phenomena, together with positional instability, rules out the Panorex as the radiograph of choice.
Loss of facial contour due to decomposition, autolysis and liquefaction, and other chemical changes will rule out a visual identification. When visual, fingerprints, and dental comparison are unavailable for whatever reason, the use of mitochondrial chromatin (DNA) is done.
The role of the orthodontist and prosthodontist must not be overlooked in the forensic picture. The very young (6- to 13-year-old group) and the geriatric population (60- to 90-year-old group) comprise approximately 40% of the unknown and missing persons population. Many times, when radiographs and charts are not available, the use of study models alone will corroborate a positive identification. This was evident when several teenagers were the victims of a raging inferno that swept through Great Adventure amusement park in Jackson, NJ. The orthodontists’ corrective study models contributed to making the final positive identification for all of the teenagers involved.
When teeth are subjected to prolonged, intense heat, crowns and roots become brittle and disintegrate. This breakdown occurs at temperatures ranging from 400ºF to 1,796ºF (cremation temperature). Gold fillings, PFM crowns, and gold crowns will melt when subjected to temperatures of 1,832ºF to 2,228ºF. Microscopic examination of the roots at such high temperatures reveals cracking, peeling, and a powdery residue, negating root morphology in the identification process.
Due to very high tem-perature resistance of cast frameworks (eg, chrome cobalt), it would be prudent and invaluable for all removable prostheses—valplast, acrylic, or cast—to be labeled and identified. This should include the patient’s name and/or social security number.
The post mortem examination will proceed to finality using the victim’s ante mortem charts, radiographs, and study models. Very rarely does the ideal situation exist when all 3 modes of identification are available. Whatever is evident must be utilized to the fullest extent. Nothing must be overlooked nor any bits of information be considered too trivial and nonvital to the forensic examination. Every piece of ante mortem evidence is vital to the process of meticulously putting the oral puzzle together. All findings post mortem are assembled, interpreted, reviewed, and recorded. A report can now be filed with reasonable justification and certainty that the comparision finds do coincide and the identification is positive.
CONCLUSION
It can be stated without reservation that the dental profession, now and in the future, can and will play a dominant role in the identification process. We as practitioners must be prepared for this demanding challenge. In doing so, we will then fulfill our obligation to society…legally, morally,and professionally.
Dr. Funaro is the department chief, Kings County consultant, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, New York City. He can be reached at (718) 714-1590.
