Posts for tag: Forensic Dentistry
Photo by Cattias.photos
Dr. Shamblott’s radio on Sunday, September 11th was in memory of the 9/11 attacks we all remember. This tragic event is what prompted Dr. Shamblott to the topic of forensic dentistry. Forensic dentistry helped identify the remains of the victims of 9/11.
Did you know that after 9/11 there were approximately 2,900 families in New York that needed help in identifying their loved one? About 1 year after the tragedy forensic dentists were able to identify 973 victims using dental records, charting, and DNA.
During the 9/11 tragedy, forensic dentists used a few different steps in order to identify the victims. First, the body would be recovered and checked for any type of identification that they may have had on them. If there was no ID, the body then was moved to the medical examiner’s office and photographed. At the examiner’s office, they checked for any unique jewelry, or special markings. If there was still no one to identify the body, then there was about 20 different forensic dentists who tried to identify with x-rays, charting, or any unique dental work (root canals) that the victim may have had.
During the aftermath of 9/11 there was a national recall for x-rays, impressions, and dental charting. The forensic dentists entered all the names and information of the people that were missing and matched it up in their system with the dental records they had received. Their computer system was then able to make some matches.
Click here to read more about an actual dentist involved in the 9/11 identification process. Hope you enjoyed Dr. Shamblott's show on the events of 9/11. Our thoughts are with all of those who have lost a loved one.
