How are 'John Does' identified by dental records? How does the coroner know where to get the information from

Answer 1

It can be a little trickier than some answers suggest depending on which country you live in.
Access to any medical records including dental records is limited under confidenciality and statuary regulations such as:-
 Data Protection Act 1984, 1998
 Human Rights Act 1998
 Caldicott Principles
 NMC Guidance for Nurses
 General Medical Council, Guidance for Doctors -
Principles of Confidentiality.


We are not allowed to release dental records to the police just because they are missing. It has to be assessed on acase by case basis and be judged to be in the best interest to release records.

But on a more general basis, in my experience, dental records are usually used to confirm an ID rather than make it. there are just too many many missing persons to collect and distribute their dental records to every coroner in the country.

The other thing that often happens though is that dental information and sometimes photos/artists impressions are published in the dental magazines with do you recognize this patient type heading.

Answer 2

The coroner starts by determining the approx. age and sex of the specimen. This is easily done by the shape of the head/skull and the general condition of the teeth. The next thing is to look for records of missing people in the area where the body/skull/head was found. The dental records/x-rays of missing individuals and then compared to those of the john doe. Dental work is very individualized and the same work on the exact same teeth is seldom seen in two different people.

Answer 3

he will compare them to missing peoples dental records, like if the coroner knows the body is of a female 5' 5" between 20-25 years old he will work with the police to find lists of all missings persons in that area that match that description

Answer 4

Recently had this happen in my office - medical examiner coming in asking for dental records.

Usually, when an unidentified body is discovered (in this case, it was a bad fire), they have a fairly good idea who is missing in the first place. It's a matter of verifying it by matching missing teeth, fillings, caps, etc. In this case, there were three people unaccounted for after a fire and the ME was trying to narrow it down.

Right after 9-11, dentists everywhere were reminded of how important it is to keep good records and to hold dental x-rays for years after a patient is inactive (or always, even though space becomes a concern.) Can you imagine what the families of the 9-11 victims were going through, wondering if their missing loved one was alive or dead? Dentists were working around the clock with authorities to help give familier this closure.

Answer 5

LOL Good question: Let's see what they come up with!!! Cheers!