Forensic Odontology

Forensic odontology is the study of teeth as it relates to the law.  Forensic odontology is commonly referred to as forensic dentistry.  Northern California Forensic Odontology is a group of 5 forensic odontologists (dentists); 3 practice general dentistry, 1 is a pediatric dentist, and the 5th is retired from a general dental practice and is currently employed by Delta Dental of California as a fraud investigator.  The five dentists have a total of over 140 years of dental experience; 4 have over 25 years experience each in the field of forensic odontology.

Forensic Odontologists perform a variety of consulting services for coroners and medical examiners, law enforcement agencies, district attorneys, public defenders, private attorneys, and private individuals.

Human Identifications

Forensic dentists perform identifications on human remains. Members of our group have been involved in identifications stemming from accidents of motor vehicles, trains, boats, planes, and helicopters.  Other identifications have been made for victims of fires, suicides, accidents, acts of terrorism, homicides and natural deaths.  Two of our members have worked at the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii (CILHI) where the skeletal remains of armed forces personnel are identified.  One member worked as a full time civilian consultant at CILHI for 2 and 1/2 years and has extensive expertise in the recovery, processing and examination of skeletal remains.  All of our members are volunteer Consultants to the California Department of Justice Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit and have spent literally hundreds of hours automating and searching the dental records of missing and unidentified persons.  In addition, members have been involved in the following high profile identification cases:

-     The 1982 Caldecott Tunnel Fire
-     The 1987 PSA plane crash in San Luis Obispo County
-     The 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake/Freeway Collapse
-     The 1991 East Bay Fire Storm
-     The 2001 World Trade Center Terrorist Attack

Bite Mark Analysis

Forensic dentistry also involves the analysis of bite marks and the documentation of patterned injuries associated with human abuse.  Members of our group have testified in court on numerous cases involving bite marks and human abuse.  Our bite mark analysis experience includes:

-     Marks in human skin
-     Foods - such as apples and cheese
-     Duct tape
-     Pencils and tongue blades
-     A steering wheel, and a bullet casing.

Our group has experience in analyzing animal bites as well, including:

-     Dogs (Rottweillers, Boxers, German Shepherds and Presa Canarios)
-     A Mountain Lion (1994 human fatality in Eldorado County)
-     A Great White Shark (Monterey County)

Fraud and Malpractice

Two members of our group have experience in analyzing dental records for the purpose of detecting possible misrepresentation of treatment rendered and the defrauding of insurance companies.  One of our members is currently employed by Delta Dental of California as a Denti-Cal fraud investigator.  He has assisted in the recovery of several million dollars of fees charged for work that was never completed, gross over-treatment, and misrepresentation of dental treatment performed.