Orthodontic reconstruction in a victim of murder

Accurate comparison of ante-mortem photographs and the skull of a deceased person is dependent upon suitable superimposition techniques and a post-mortem dentition which is comparable to the situation obtaining in the individual at the time of death. The skull featuring in this case presented with a missing upper lateral incisor, lost after death, and the occlusion was studied enabling a replacement tooth to be provided and positioned as in life. Although no dental records were available, good quality photographs of a putative identity were compared by electronic superimposition and the restored occlusal characteristics of the skull were shown to accurately match the photographs of one possible victim. This evidence resulted in positive identification by a Coroner. This case illustrates the importance of seeking specialist clinical advice in forensic dental cases.