What a blessing it is to help the children of Haiti!

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Some of you folks may have heard about the medical mission trip a group of us went on two weeks ago. Nearly 20 of us survived 90+ degree temperatures and 3 lost I-Phones to help the kids/adults of Haiti. Words are difficult to describe what it feels like to visit these precious people. They are so appreciative of all that is done for them. We had two physicians, two dentists, several nurses, and many volunteers helping give medical care to those in need.

These people are the poorest of the poor, and yet they are so gracious, loving and appreciative with a beautiful spirit. It is so refreshing to be able to help people with something that you know they cannot get on their own.

Sarah nelson, one of the nurses, has put together a fabulous four minute video summary of our visit there. Please take a moment to experience a tip of the iceburg of life in Haiti. We will be returning sometime in the next year. If you have an interest in joining us, let me know! Our parent organization is Healing Hands, International.


Dealing With Extracted Teeth In Dental Identification

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Dealing With Extracted Teeth In Dental Identification

If a body is examined and there are no immediate clues as to who this person might be, our first step at the Medical Examiner’s Office is to do a complete dental examination and xray of every tooth. It basically consists of a similar exam you are getting from your family dentist. Clinical notations are made if there are signs of malocclusion (incorrect fitting of the lower jaw to the upper jaw), unusual shading of the teeth or gums, or any other clinical notes that might describe identifiable characteristics. Detection of periodontal disease might be another example of information that could be obtained from the handwritten clinical notes. 

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The Basics Of Forensic Dentistry

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The Basics Of Forensic Dentistry

The accuracy of forensic dental identification is without question. With their being 32 natural teeth in the adult human (counting wisdom teeth), and with each tooth having 5 separate sides, the number of possibilities of fillings on each of the surfaces of every tooth is practically unlimited. That fact, plus the durability of the human tooth to withstand fire, heat, cold, and time makes it a valuable piece of evidence that seemingly will not go away.

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Learn More About Forensic ID

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Learn More About Forensic ID

Many individuals have wanted more information about forensic dental identification. One of the largest forensic organizations in the United States is the American Society of Forensic Odontology. It’s website is www.asfo.org. This organization's mission statement is as follows: 

The objective of this Society shall be to advance the cause of forensic dentistry and to develop and maintain the highest standards of practice. This shall be done via study, discussion, seminars, publications and liaison with other organized agencies.

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The Reliability of Forensic Dentistry

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The Reliability of Forensic Dentistry

In the fall of 1975, I opened a family dental practice in Hendersonville, Tennessee, just after a two year hitch in the U.S. Army Dental Corps in Ft. Polk, Louisiana. Eight years later, in the summer of 1983, I began officiating high school football in the middle Tennessee area. One of my fellow officials happened to be the current medical examiner for Davidson County. After one of our weekly meetings, he asked me if I had any interest in looking at the mouth of an unknown decedent (forensic word for ‘dead guy’) whose body had just been discovered at Riverfront Park in downtown Nashville. I said, ‘sure, why not?’

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