Bright Lights: Part 1 : Murder Most Brutal !

Question 1

We have all heard of how Forensic Dentistry has helped in the identification of burnt victims and also victims with bite marks. Explain more about these and describe how is Forensic Dentistry could be useful in the identification of murder victims?

Dental analysis is an excellent way to collect evidence and solve crimes. This is because teeth is able to withstand fire that destroys all kinds of evidence, burn human bones to ashes & even melt copper and glass ! :O

At the scene of the crime, odontologists collect the skull or remaining teeth, which are taken back to the forensic laboratory for the postmortem dental investigation. X-rays are taken and if the jaw is completely intact and the dental records used to compare are recent, the job of proving a match is a relatively simple one. Dentists mark on a chart the position of missing teeth, crowns, bridges, fillings, caps, root canals and various other treatments during a patient's routine check-up.

It is said that no two people has the exact same dental imprint ! Using bitemarks, forensic odontologists are able to take bite-mark impressions on the skin of the victims. By comparing many factors, for example matching for striations whorls, indentations, pitting and abrasions, with the help of computer-enhanced photography.

The physical characteristics of both the bite mark wound and the suspect's teeth include:

• the distance from cuspid to cuspid

• the shape of the mouth arch

• the evidence of a tooth out of alignment

• teeth width and thickness, spacing between teeth

• missing teeth

• the curves of biting edges

• unique dentistry

• wear patterns such as chips or grinding.

It can also be determined from the type of bleeding beneath the skin whether the victim was alive or dead at the time the bite mark was delivered.

The forensic odontologist simply gives evidence as a witness to injuries caused by biting and it is the method in which they choose to present evidence in court that convinces a jury whether a suspect guilty or innocent.

Isn't it amazing how each and everyone of us are distinct in our own ways and we would not be able to escape from our wrong doings or wrongly accused ?! :O

Question 2

Is a male human skull different from that of a female? If yes, how?

Yes,a male skull is different from a female skull ;

Weight :

Male : Heavier
Female : Lighter

Size :

Male : Skull size is larger
Female : Skull size is lighter

Bony Mass / Thickness :

Male : Thicker
Female : Thinner

Contour of the face :

Female Skull

Male Skull

Male : Overall length of the skull is longer , chin is bigger & protrudes more forward ; Zygomatic bones are thicker
Female : Skull is rounded with the facial bones being smoother , jaws mandible & maxilla are smaller.

Forehead :

Male : Slightly sloping or receding
Female : Forehead is vertical

Vault of the skull :

Male : More rounded and prominent
Female : More flattened

Supraorbital Margin :

Male : More rounded
Female : Sharp

Frontal bone :

Male : Brow ridges are well demarcated.
Females : Smooth, more vertical frontal bone.

Mastoid Process :

Male : Larger Mastoid process

Female : Smaller Mastoid process

So, this is just a video of us doing a simple comparison of a male and a female skull. Hopefully it helps to understand better ! Enjoy :))

Question 3:

From the story above so far, how many victims are there? Explain.

From our investigation, we assume there is only one victim because there was only one skull discovered and we assume the pieces of bone come from the same victim.

Thats all for today ! Hope this has been informative :)