Case Reports (Jul 2015)
Use of dental impression materials in the analysis of tool marks to identify causal elements
Abstract
When faced with an element which is the suspected cause of a cut or lesion, dental casting can be made to compare characteristics observed on the surface of the tool mark with those found on the bones. There is a large variety of materials available on national and international markets to record and analyze marks or signs that an element leaves on any given surface (bite marks, tool marks on bones, finger prints, etc.), all of which are useful in forensic investigation (1). However, the unconventional application of odontological techniques and the use of materials such as alginate and silicone have been found useful recovering tool marks on bones, which allows the forensic scientist to clearly establish when an element was used to cause cuts and injuries in an individual. This technique has been applied in five cases of possible homicide with the use of a cutting element and, as a result, has generated highly accurate casts. It also shows that both materials are appropriate for this purpose, and although silicone offers greater detail in the impression, either material can be used depending on the commercial availability.
