Forensic Dentistry Has Its Roots in the American Revolution
One major incident where forensic dentistry was used happened in the American Revolution period.
The current paper will examine the history of development of forensic dentistry during the Revolutionary War era. Specifically, we will look at the particular event that made it recognized as such and the contributions of the first dentists, including the famous Paul Revere. Evolution of this field from then till now will also be discussed.
Forensic Dentistry:
Forensic dentistry is defined as scientific means used for purposes of establishing the identity and investigating criminal offenses. The discipline involves examination of teeth, dental records, bite marks and other dental evidence.
Teeth represent one of the most durable body parts. They withstand various adverse factors, such as heat, decay, and even injuries. Therefore, teeth serve well as a means of investigation.
Forensic dentistry uses modern methods like X-rays, digital imaging and DNA analysis. Its development dates back to less sophisticated observations, however, when it was discovered that every individual had unique set of teeth.
It occurred during an important event of the 18th century.
Historical Background Dentistry Prior to the Colonies In order to gain a full understanding of how forensic dentistry became a discipline, it is necessary to have some history on dentistry prior to the colonization of America. There was no specialized dentistry at the time. Various specialists engaged in such activity, from surgeons to various craftspeople and even silversmiths.
In America, dental treatment was mostly carried out by either barber-surgeons or craftsmen who possessed certain skills that enabled them to make dentures. Such an individual was Paul Revere – a well-known silversmith who also worked as a dentist in Boston for many years.
As a result of his metalworking skills, he was able to craft false teeth with wires. In this way, dentistry combined the craftsmanship and the medical practice, which served the basis for applying dentistry forensically due to the possibility of identifying people according to their dentures.
American Revolution: A Historical Era The American Revolution (1775-1783) is an era of political and armed confrontations between the British settlers and Britain.
An important occurrence happened during this period which would be later regarded as an example of forensic odontology.
There is another person in this narrative, namely Dr. Joseph Warren, a physician and patriot leader who served as a major general in the colonial military. Warren participated in the revolutionary efforts against the British.
Death of Dr. Joseph Warren:
Dr. Joseph Warren passed away during the Battle of Bunker Hill which occurred on June 17, 1775. This battle went down in history as one of the most famous battles of the American Revolution period.
Notwithstanding his senior rank, Dr. Warren fought side by side with other soldiers. At the end of the battle, the British buried Warren along with other dead soldiers in a grave.
Because of how he was buried and due to the passing of time, his body was hard to recognize. After several months when the British had left the place, Warren’s family tried to retrieve his body.
However, because of their condition, it was not easy to recognize them through sight. It was at this point that dental evidence helped out.
The First Known Application of Forensic Odontology When Warren’s body was dug up in 1776, it was recognized through its facial characteristics, including two artificial teeth which were put into his mouth just prior to his death.
The above identification is commonly referred to as the use of dental evidence in a medico-legal examination. It is because the evidence of dental work enabled the investigators to differentiate Warrens remains from other sets of remains.
It was evident that one could employ the uniqueness of individuals teeth to establish identity.
Role of Paul Revere:
It should be noted that Paul Revere is well known in relation to this particular case and is popularly termed as America’s first forensic dentist. It is important to note that Paul Revere, despite his image as a patriot and a night rider, was not only that. He was an artisan and also a dentist, as well.
According to the testimonies, it could very well be that Revere made those dentures which were discovered in Warren’s mouth. But then again, this is a claim which modern-day historians find difficult to authenticate.
There have been indications to show that the account regarding Revere might have been created many decades after the incident and may not entirely be correct. Nonetheless, his contribution to dentistry makes it clear how dentistry has connections to identification.
Importance of Teeth for Identification:
In the example of Dr. Warren, it becomes clear as to why teeth are so important in science. This is due to the following reasons:* They are hard-wearing.
Uniqueness. Every person’s teeth structure is unique.
Teeth Restoration. Teeth fillings, bridges and implants can be used for identification purposes.
Records. The comparison of dental records with the dead body may confirm their identity.
Forensic dentists use such knowledge for the recognition of disaster victims, criminal investigations and other matters related to identification of deceased.
Forensic Dentistry Development after the Revolution :
Despite the fact that the recognition of Dr. Warren became a breakthrough in the field of forensic dentistry, its development took time during the next two centuries.
The first century saw the gradual transition of dentistry into the status of a medical practice.
By that time, forensic dentistry has become a discipline that involves certain training and associations that the American Society of Forensic Odontology promotes.
Modern Applications of Forensic Dentistry:
Forensic dentistry is now one of the fields of forensic science. Its application includes cases like:
* Identification of individuals killed by natural disasters
* Criminal investigation by bite-mark evidence
* The identification of deceased individuals in disaster situationsForensic dentistry has also been utilized to identify deceased victims after natural disasters and terrorist attacks, for example. Therefore, the importance of forensic dentistry can never be overemphasized.
In addition, forensic dentistry falls under the category of identification techniques together with DNA testing and fingerprinting.
Development of the Method :
The methods of dentistry that have been applied throughout history have changed greatly from the times of the eighteenth century. Initially, techniques included observing and recognizing the dental work done.
The technological advancement includes the use of:
* Imaging techniques and 3D modeling
* Computerized dental files
* DNA isolation from teeth
* Software analysis of bite marks
These developments have made identification processes more accurate and reliable.
Problems and Controversies:
Despite its great utility, there are some problems associated with forensic dentistry. One of the controversies concerns the examination of bite marks because of their unreliable nature in court cases.
Some cases of wrong identification resulted in unfair sentences. Identification based on records is, however, a reliable technique widely used in forensic science.
Impact of the American Revolution Case:
The story of identification of Dr. Joseph Warren has a larger impact. This case showed the way to develop a science based on human identification using dental data.
* Dental traits can be used for identification purposes.
* Medicine and law can work together.
* Scientific knowledge can be applied to solve practical problems. In addition, it reveals how war time necessities lead to discoveries.
#Conclusion:
Forensic dentistry is one of the complex fields of forensic sciences. The development of this field took place owing to one of the most unexpected occurrences during the American Revolutionary War.
Identifying Dr. Joseph Warren based on the use of scientific evidence marked the dawn of more significant discoveries within the field.
Even though earlier professionals such as Paul Revere may not have predicted the current advancements in the field, the basic concept that they proved was the fact that teeth can be used to identify someone even if other means fail.
From its origins as an activity on the battlefields in 1775 to its current form as a science conducted within a laboratory, forensic dentistry exemplifies the evolution of science and technology through time. Forensic dentistry in the American Revolution period teaches us that science can make advances even during wartime.
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