Introduction to Forensic Science and Forensic Odontology

Welcome back, my dear reader! :) I hope you had fun answering Question 1 !

"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?"

As Question 1 is really long, we shall analyze the question part by part. Today, we shall find out what is Forensic Dentistry is all about. Here are what you will need to know and comprehend :) 

Welcome to the world of FORENSIC SCIENCE. In this 21^st century, advancement in science and technology has brought us into a new eye-opening world of forensic science to fight for justice. Traces of evidence can be discovered to solve a crime which comprises of fingerprints, footprints, body fluids, bones, teeth and even bite marks.

Since the topic we are going to discuss is related to forensic dentistry, hence we sincerely invite you to embark on the journey of forensic dentistry with us and you will be known as a “FORENSIC ODONTOLOGIST” at the moment. Before that, we are sure that you would like to discover the important roles that you play in a forensic team and you will find it exciting and challenging to discover who you will be working with throughout the whole journey of crime solving.

 

FORENSIC SCIENCE OVERVIEW: 

Have you ever wonder what is actually the real meaning of “Forensic”, rather than the first thought that usually flashes in people's mind that it is related to crime solving?

You might be fascinated by the origin of the word “Forensic” which is from the Latin term forensis which means “to the forum” or with regard to debate or discussion. Once you step into Forensic Science, you are actually intersecting both science and law, and you will be known generally as a “forensic scientist” once you are competent to be one. Then, your job is to give contributions to legal debates by applying scientific methods to the investigation of legal problems. Basically you will be using knowledge integrated from scientific field such as chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics or even psychology during your work and you will serve as the front line workers at the scene of a crime or even disaster.

Hence you are important as the world needs you to evaluate, manage, and present evidence in legal proceedings to redress the injustice to aid in protecting people, serve justice and promote better public health. However, your job is not only restricted of working with law enforcement in solving crimes, but also investigating environmental contaminations. You even have a check on athletes who fail a dope test and employee drug use.

CAREERS IN FORENSIC SCIENCE FIELD: 

When you are in the forensic science field, you will be expected to work together with your awesome colleagues who you will need them for more accurate and precise investigations. They are: 

And just a reminder, you are a forensic odontologist now. We shall introduce you about your role and your colleagues’ role to work in a corporate body in order to make the success to the best.

Forensic Odontologist

Forensic odontology is actually one of the specialised fields that you can opt to pursue after getting an usual dentistry degree. Hence most of the time, you will usually work as regular dentist but please bear in mind that you had been well trained with highly experience. You will use your expertise to help in identifying unknown remains and bite marks on a specific individuals. Thus, you will be called to perform forensic examinations as requested by local law enforcement or your medical colleagues of forensic pathologist. You can expect to be called in by police officers, medical examiner or even coroner (an officer who holds inquests in regard to violent, sudden, or unexplained deaths). Forensic odontology requires attention to collect details and the ability to work patiently so as to complete a lengthy step-by-step process without rushing.

So if there is a crime case that needs your expertise, you are typically called in for:

• Identify human remains that cannot be identified using fingerprints or other means
• Identify bodies in mass fatalities, such as plane crashes and natural disasters
• Determine the source of bite mark injuries, in cases of assault or suspected abuse
• Estimate the age of skeletal remains
• Testify in cases of dental malpractice

Hence, you will be dealing with most of the cases that are related to teeth. In cases of death, you may go to the crime or disaster scene. Since crimes and disasters can happen at any time, you will receive “on-call” and must be physically and mentally ready to work for long hours, day or night, on holidays and even on weekends. Such close involvement with the investigation of crimes and mass disasters can be emotionally disturbing.

Otherwise, you will have to attend the autopsy session and take photographs, measuring the skull, take dental impressions and x-rays from the remains. Then, you will compare the exemplars to those already known missing individuals. If a match can be made, you are able to identify the remains. The work is highly detailed. It demands for extremely fine motor skills and requires extraordinary precision as well as accuracy. Complex equipments including computers, microscopes and other technologies may be used in the identification process.

In cases where bite marks are found on the body of a victim or suspected perpetrator, or on food, chewing gum or another item, you will use the same procedure to determine the source of the bite marks.

After that, you will write an accurate and complete detailed report to explain what has been done and what conclusions can be made based solely on the physical evidence available. You must be prepared to explain the process and justify the findings in the court.

Here's a video to basically tell you about what you are doing as a forensic odontologist: 

Crime Scene Investigators (CSIs)

  

The most outgoing colleagues of yours will be crime scene investigators or so-called CSI in short. Please do not get confused as your colleagues usually will be known differently with many names like evidence technician, crime scene technician, forensic investigator, crime scene analyst, criminalistics officer, etc. As you realise, the name known generally always has something to do with evidence and crime scene because CSI will spend most of the time in working at crime scenes. In the past, you will find most of your CSI colleagues were actually well-trained police officers. Today, you still can see most of them still work out at police stations. However, the role has been increasingly given to “civilians” with scientific basis, rather than law enforcement expertise.

Job as a CSI will include:

• Secure the crime scene
• Collect evidence by:
• Take detailed measurements
• Sketch and diagram the scene
• Take photographs

At the crime scene, you will expect your colleagues to collect physical evidence such as fingerprints, footprints, trace materials, hairs, fibers from clothes, biological evidence include body fluids, bones, or teeth which can be found either at the crime scene or on victim’s body)

• Document all evidence taken from the scene (location, nature, etc.)
• Package and label evidence and transfer to the lab

The evidence samples collected was transferred to the lab. It will be analysed by your colleagues as well as you yourself (forensic chemists, forensic biologists, forensic toxicologists). CSI will rarely process evidence unless they had undergone special training like fingerprint processing or blood spatter analysis.

• Attend and photograph autopsies
• Write a report detailing evidence collection procedures and conclusions (After that you will have to prepare a written report detailing how and where all evidence is discovered and collected.)
• Testify to their findings in court
• Maintain equipment and restock portable evidence collection kits

During CSI’s work, you might find your colleagues coming back to lab with messiness, smells, sweats, etc. You have to realize that their job is quite messy, physically demanding and time consuming. However, they will find it rewarding in uncovering the physical evidence that explains who and how a crime was committed.

Forensic Biologist

Biology is a subject which deals with living things. Your colleagues in this field will be the experts in examining blood and other bodily fluids, hair, bones, insects, plant and animal remains to aid in identifying the victims and support criminal investigations. 

The world is going into advanced science and technology in this 21^stcentury. By using leading-edge technology in the lab and in the field, forensic biologists collect and analyze biological evidence discovered on clothing, weapons and other surfaces. Then they will determine the time and cause of death.

You will see them keeping detailed logs prepare reports. Attention to detail is critical, because a single mistake can cause the evidence to be thrown out of court. Your colleagues of senior-level forensic biologists may testify in court about their findings together with CSIs.

In addition to biology, forensic biologists may become experts in:

• DNA analysis
• Forensic anthropology
• Forensic pathology
• Forensic entomology
• Forensic botany
• Biological chemistry

Forensic Chemists

Instead of biological evidence analysed by your forensic biologist colleagues, non-biological trace evidence discovered at the crime scenes will be analysed by your colleagues of forensic chemists in order to identify unknown materials and match samples to known substances.

Working in a lab, they run tests on samples collected by CSIs. They use a variety of techniques, including microscopy, optical analysis (UV, infrared, X-ray), gas chromatography, and other technologies.

They carefully document their findings and write reports that are used to support criminal investigations. Forensic chemists may also testify to their findings in court.

Forensic pathology

Other experts that you will be working with are your medical colleagues, who are specialized in forensic pathology. They are well trained medical physicians. You will usually see them examine the bodies of people who died suddenly, unexpectedly, or violently.  They are responsible for determining the cause (the ultimate and immediate reasons for the cessation of life) and manner of death (homicide, suicide, accidental, natural, or unknown). 

To determine the identity of the victim and the time, manner and cause of death, the forensic pathologist:

• studies the medical history,
• evaluates crime scene evidence including witness statements,
• performs an autopsy to uncover evidence of injury or disease, and
• collects medical and trace evidence from the body for further analysis.

In addition to anatomy, the forensic pathologist may draw upon specialized knowledge and training in:

• toxicology
• firearms/ballistics
• trace evidence
• serology (blood analysis), and
• DNA technology. 

A forensic pathologist may be appointed as a Medical Examiner by a legal jurisdiction such as a city, county or state.

Clinical forensic pathologists examine living patients, usually in cases where sexual assault or abuse is suspected.

Forensic toxicologist

You will never know that one day you might find some toxic stain on the tooth. Hence, you will try to find your colleagues, the forensic toxicologists. They perform scientific tests on bodily fluids and tissue samples to identify any drugs or chemicals present in the body of the victim.

As part of a team investigating a crime, they will isolate and identify any substances in the body that may have contributed to the crime, such as:

• alcohol
• illegal or prescription drugs
• other chemicals
• poisons
• metals
• gases, such as carbon monoxide

Working in a lab, they perform tests on samples collected by CSIs. They use highly sophisticated instruments, chemical reagents and precise methodologies to determine the presence or absence of specific substances in the sample.

The work requires patience and the ability to follow specific steps to achieve reliable results. The forensic toxicologist must document every step of the process, and take care to follow rules regarding chain of custody for physical evidence.

The field of forensic toxicology has grown to include drug testing for employers and traffic enforcement officials, testing of animal samples for wildlife criminal investigators, testing for “date rape” drugs and performance-enhancing substances.

Forensic toxicologists also work on cases involving environmental contamination, to determine the impact of chemical spills on nearby populations. Investigators rely on the forensic toxicologist to make reliable conclusions about the impact a specific amount of a specific substance would have on a specific individual. Often, this requires the professional to form an educated opinion based on science and experience. If you are asked to testify in court, the forensic toxicologist must be prepared to justify that opinion and to explain complex methodologies in terms of a jury can understand.

Generally, that's all. Thank you for the kind attention. You can click on the following link below for more information and knowledge. 

Have fun!

Resources adapted from: http://explorehealthcareers.org/en/home

http://www.forensic-medecine.info/forensic-science.html