FORENSIC DENTISTRY
Forensic dentistry is application of dentistry in jurisdiction system. Its most important contribution is identity detection. Especially when corpses are unidentifiable, treatments the teeth have undergone is crucial in identification. Tooth is the strongest structure of human body. Bite marks are also important evidences and can be used in identification.
DENTAL IDENTIFICATION
Dental identification go back to Roman Empire. In the first century AD Emperor Claudius had her mistress killed in an unidentifiable manner and checked her teeth to make sure it was her, because he knew of coloring of a certain part of her teeth.
BITE MARKS
In the 11th century, England King William’s usage of bite marks of his crooked front teeth is an interesting utilisation of bite marks.
IN COURT
In 1692, George Burroughs was accused of conspiring with the devil and using black magic at the Salem Witch Trials in America. It was claimed that he bit his victims, his bite marks were compared to those on the victims. He was found guilty and hung. This is the first case in history where bite marks were accepted as evidence. 20 years later his children were paid compensation because of false execution.
DETERMINATION OF NAZI
Forensic dentistry was also used to identify corpses of infamous persons like Adolph Hitler and Joseph Mengele.
