Special Needs or Requests? Please call the office for assistance.

Course Description

Morning Session: 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
Participants will gain an introduction of forensic odontology and why our laws dictate the requirement for legal identity. An over-view of the medical/legal death investigation process and purpose will be given. A step-by-step study of a comprehensive dental autopsy will be presented, including physical examination, photography, radiography and the forensic evidence management needs of varying postmortem states including skeletonized, fragmented, decomposed and burned. Our federal multiple fatality and disaster incident management systems will be overviewed. An introduction to international non-government disaster management services and function will be presented.

1. Medical and Death Investigation
   1. Need and purpose when conducted
   2. Medical/Legal Investigation
   1. Coroner Systems
   2. Medical Examiner Systems
2. Forensic Autopsy
   1. Evisceration
   2. Fine dissection
   3. Toxicology
   1. Organ tissue
   2. Humors
   4. Microscopy
   5. Cause and Manner of Death
   6. Death certification and legal identity
3. Dental Autopsy
   1. Need and purpose when conducted
   2. Dissection and resection
   3. Photography
   4. Radiography
   5. Odontogram
   6. Cases and outcomes
4. Multiple fatality events and mass disaster management
1. Definitions
2. Governance and responsibilities of authorities
3. National Disaster Medical System
1. Disaster Mortuary Operations Response Team (DMORT)
2. Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT)
4. International Private Organizations

Afternoon Session: 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Learn about how forensic odontology is applied outside of the morgue. Matters of civil litigation involving dental professionals require the guidance of dental consultants who are trained and experienced in the practice of dental sciences as well as versed in the development, administration and enforcement of state rules and statutes governing the dental professions. We will examine easily avoided risks still commonly recognized too late to reduce or eliminate legal exposure. Easy tips and insights will be offered to better insulate the ethical and competent provider from the nuisances of frivolous litigation threats and actions, and improve the likelihood for a favorable outcome if a suit is filed.

The publicly accessible online repository of unsolved cold cases representing missing, unidentified and unclaimed persons from every state in the USA will be presented to engage you as a member of the general public in a way that collaborates with law enforcement and medical/legal death investigation efforts to return identity to the unnamed, bring the missing home, and give final rest to those found, named and waiting.

This section will also examine abuse and human trafficking. Many forms of abuse are not always easily recognized. The present and historical experiences of victims influence behavior, decisions and relationships and we have both legal and moral responsibilities to our patients when abuse is confirmed or suspected. Oral manifestations of physical and sexual abuse from young to old will be presented and discussed. Guidelines will be given to assist you in the development of office protocols for all team members to be prepared to intervene on behalf of a victim, including ideal documentation and preservation of forensic evidence right from the dental chair with the tools you already have in the office.

The wide-spread and devastatingly effective methods that criminals employ using social media to find, groom and sexually exploit both minors and adults will likely shock you, but empower you nonetheless to protect yourself and your family from these vulnerabilities. A summary discussion of the global footprint of human trafficking as it pertains to labor, legal and covert emigration and to provide a deeper understanding and empathy when the factors of desperation, coercion, fraud and choice are all in play.

1. Civil Litigation of dental providers and risk mitigation
   
2. Missing and Unidentified Persons
   
   1. NamUS
   2. Unidentified
   3. Missing & Missing Indigenous Persons AI/AN
   4. Unclaimed Persons
3. Abuse, reporting, intervention
   1. Types of harm: physical, sexual, emotional, financial, religious and cultural coercion.
   1. Children
   2. Adults
   3. Elderly
4. Trafficking
   1. Defined
   2. Methods
   3. Clues/warning signs
   4. Interventions
   1. Traffick Cam
   2. Smart phone apps
   3. “The Slavery Index” website
   
   

Ms. Riley’s program will employ PowerPoint to present concepts and cases and lead the audience through the outline utilizing didactic, audiovisual and open group discussions. A handout of resources relevant to organized forensic odontology and immersive study opportunities is provided. No photography or videography of the content of this program is permitted."

This seminar has already been held, please click here to view all upcoming seminars.


What People Are Saying

• "Great speaker! Knowledgeable and presents her subject material well."
  RDA
  Reno, Nevada
  
  
• "I found Amber Riley to be humorous, yet she is very knowledgeable! She kept the subject matter as light as possible, without taking away form the serious subject."
  Kathleen
  Olympia, Washington
  
  
• "Amber was great! Very knowledgeable, funny and kept it interesting! Thank you!"
  RDH
  Reno, NV