“Bones, Bugs, Fire & Flies©” An Introduction to Forensic Odontology

Domestic Violence, Forensic Odontology, Human Trafficking

Morning Session: 8:30 am – 12:30 pm

Participants will learn an introduction of forensic odontology and why state and national laws dictate the requirement of legal identity. An over-view of the medical/legal death investigation process and purpose will be given. A 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.

This program includes media and discussion around topics including natural and unnatural death, physical and domestic violence, suicide and harm involving minors and adults.

This content may be difficult or triggering for some people. Please use discretion in attendance.

The presenter does not give permission for any photos, screen shots, or video recordings to be taken from any device of the clinical content of this program.

Medical and Death Investigation

• Need and purpose when conducted
• Medical/Legal Investigation
  • Coroner Systems
  • Medical Examiner Systems

Forensic Autopsy

• Evisceration
• Toxicology
  • Organ tissue
  • Humors
• Cause and Manner of Death
• Death certification and legal identity

Dental Autopsy

• Need and purpose when conducted
• Dissection and resection
• Photography
• Radiography
• Odontogram
• Cases and outcomes

Multiple fatality events and mass disaster management

• Definitions
• Governance and responsibilities of authorities
• National Disaster Medical System
  • Disaster Mortuary Operations Response Team (DMORT)

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.

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