How do dental impressions help police identify unidentified dead people since most people don’t get dental impressions when they’re alive?
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It’s precisely that. Most people *do* have dental work done in their lifetimes. They might not have impessions, but most dental surgeons do take records in a meticulous way as to the state of their patients’ teeth and gums. While not direct impressions, these dental records are sufficient enougjh over a record of an entire set of teeth to identify somebody.
Dental patients often get X-rays as they are treated. It’s the easiest way to check for impacted wisdom teeth. The x-ray is almost as good as the impression since it can give a relative size and orientation of the teeth. Other records of work like fillings help too.
Dentist here.
The combination of number, distribution, spacing and size of teeth plus the restorations in the mouth, orientation and curving of roots, and extra or missing teeth make almost every mouth unique.
The family of Mr. X calls the cops because he’s missing. A year later they find a skull in the woods. The cops will find who was his dentist from the family and will subpoena the dental records. A forensic dentist will compare the records with the teeth in the skull and confirm or deny an identification with almost 100% accuracy. Impressions do not play a big role in identification, they are more important in matching bite marks.
I’ve had dental impressions made several times, so I guess I’m in luck if I get murdered and thrown in a shallow grave.
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