FRSC 3010 - EXAM DETAILED QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS VERIFIED
What is the study of forensic odontology?
The use of teeth to provide information about the identification of victims when a body is
left in an unrecognizable state. Bite mark analysis can be performed to identify the
perpetrator of a crime
What is the difference between dentistry and forensic odontology?
Dentistry is the evaluation, diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment of diseases,
disorders and/or conditions of the oral cavity and maxillofacial area. It is considered to
be part of complete oral health.
Forensic odontology involves the proper handling, examining and evaluation of dental
evidence, which will then be presented in the interest of justice. This is done using
dental records or ante-mortem photographs.
True or False: At about age six most children lose their baby teeth
True
How many teeth do adults have?
Adults have 32 teeth. Among these teeth are 8 incisors, 4 canines, 8 premolars, and 12
molars
What is the importance of tooth enamel?
Tooth enamel is considered to be the hardest substance of human anatomy. This
means it can persist in harsh conditions such as a plane crash or an explosion. Tooth
enamel is often used in the identification of people in mass disaster events
,True or False: Teeth interact with our environment, as such, can reflect
conditions an individual has experienced in life
True
When is forensic odontology most often employed?
In missing person cases, unidentified bodies and mass disaster cases
What is a prerequisite to human identification from dental records?
Having dental X-rays prior to death
What are variables in the study of odontology?
Number, size, and position of teeth, and the amount, size, location of dental work.
What are the problems associated with human identification from dental records?
Teeth change over time, need forensic odontologist to assess variability between teeth
from remains and X-rays
Give an example of when forensic odontology was used:
The Swiss Air 111 Crash. On a flight from New York to Geneva there was an electrical
fire that cause the crash of a plane in Atlantic Ocean off Peggy's Cove in Halifax. There
was an estimated 15,000 body parts recovered. 90 of the victims were able to be
identified using dental records
What is bite mark analysis?
The practice of comparing dental impressions made on a victim's skin with a suspect's
dentition
True or False: Forensic Odontology is a commonly used technique in Canada
False --> It is not used due to it being controversial and unreliable
What is a famous case that used forensic odontology for conviction purposes?
, The Ted Bundy Case
What are the two basic assumptions that forensic odontology relies on?
- That dental impressions are unique to an individual
- That human skin reliably records the transfer and preservation of a bite-mark
impression
What are common issues with forensic odontology?
- Neither of the two premises has been proven
- NAS report concluded there was no scientific underpinning to the discipline
- PCAST report concluded that it is not a scientifically valid and is unlikely to ever be
validated
- Many reports refer to bite mark analysis as "junk science"
True or False: Forensic Odontology has been used in US courts since 1950s and
is still in use today
True
True or False: Since 2000, at least 24 men convicted or charged with murder or
rape based on bite mark evidence in the US has been exonerated
True
What is forensic anthropology?
Involves the processing and analyzing of human skeletal remains within the context of a
legal investigation
What are human remains are assed to determine?
Age, Gender, Race, Height, Stature
ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS VERIFIED
What is the study of forensic odontology?
The use of teeth to provide information about the identification of victims when a body is
left in an unrecognizable state. Bite mark analysis can be performed to identify the
perpetrator of a crime
What is the difference between dentistry and forensic odontology?
Dentistry is the evaluation, diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment of diseases,
disorders and/or conditions of the oral cavity and maxillofacial area. It is considered to
be part of complete oral health.
Forensic odontology involves the proper handling, examining and evaluation of dental
evidence, which will then be presented in the interest of justice. This is done using
dental records or ante-mortem photographs.
True or False: At about age six most children lose their baby teeth
True
How many teeth do adults have?
Adults have 32 teeth. Among these teeth are 8 incisors, 4 canines, 8 premolars, and 12
molars
What is the importance of tooth enamel?
Tooth enamel is considered to be the hardest substance of human anatomy. This
means it can persist in harsh conditions such as a plane crash or an explosion. Tooth
enamel is often used in the identification of people in mass disaster events
,True or False: Teeth interact with our environment, as such, can reflect
conditions an individual has experienced in life
True
When is forensic odontology most often employed?
In missing person cases, unidentified bodies and mass disaster cases
What is a prerequisite to human identification from dental records?
Having dental X-rays prior to death
What are variables in the study of odontology?
Number, size, and position of teeth, and the amount, size, location of dental work.
What are the problems associated with human identification from dental records?
Teeth change over time, need forensic odontologist to assess variability between teeth
from remains and X-rays
Give an example of when forensic odontology was used:
The Swiss Air 111 Crash. On a flight from New York to Geneva there was an electrical
fire that cause the crash of a plane in Atlantic Ocean off Peggy's Cove in Halifax. There
was an estimated 15,000 body parts recovered. 90 of the victims were able to be
identified using dental records
What is bite mark analysis?
The practice of comparing dental impressions made on a victim's skin with a suspect's
dentition
True or False: Forensic Odontology is a commonly used technique in Canada
False --> It is not used due to it being controversial and unreliable
What is a famous case that used forensic odontology for conviction purposes?
, The Ted Bundy Case
What are the two basic assumptions that forensic odontology relies on?
- That dental impressions are unique to an individual
- That human skin reliably records the transfer and preservation of a bite-mark
impression
What are common issues with forensic odontology?
- Neither of the two premises has been proven
- NAS report concluded there was no scientific underpinning to the discipline
- PCAST report concluded that it is not a scientifically valid and is unlikely to ever be
validated
- Many reports refer to bite mark analysis as "junk science"
True or False: Forensic Odontology has been used in US courts since 1950s and
is still in use today
True
True or False: Since 2000, at least 24 men convicted or charged with murder or
rape based on bite mark evidence in the US has been exonerated
True
What is forensic anthropology?
Involves the processing and analyzing of human skeletal remains within the context of a
legal investigation
What are human remains are assed to determine?
Age, Gender, Race, Height, Stature
