Paul Revere: Boston CSI

Do you enjoy television shows about crime scene investigations? Did you know that Paul Revere could be called the originator of dental forensics? From 1776 to 2006, forensic science continues to provide valuable clues about our mouths and our mortality!

An 18th century profession

Paul Revere was a famous American of the Revolutionary War period. Among his many professions, he was:

• An expert goldsmith and silversmith
• An inventor of production methods for copper sheet metal
• An engraver and illustrator for currency, political cartoons, books and magazines, business cards, etc.
• A courier for the Continental Congress that eventually declared independence from England
• A political activist and military leader (including a famous "midnight ride" to alert the American patriots that the British soldiers were advancing toward Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts)
• A post-war importer, hardware store owner, and bell maker

And--Paul Revere was a dentist!

As a dentist during the 1760s and 1770s, Paul Revere made a fixed bridge with silver wire for his friend, Dr. Joseph Warren, who was another one of the famous "Sons of Liberty." During one of the preliminary battles of the Revolutionary War, Dr. Warren was killed, stripped, and buried at Breed's Hill (near Bunker Hill), outside the Boston area. In 1776, the patriots wanted to give Dr. Warren a hero's burial. Even though Dr. Warren's body had been buried in an unmarked grave, Paul Revere was able to identify the body from the dental bridge he had created. At that moment the science of dental forensics was born!

A 21st century profession

Today, dental forensics is an important part of crime scene investigations, wars, accidents, disaster situations, and other events including when identification techniques for legal matters are needed. Even without dental records, expert forensic dentists can quickly identify human remains. This is because the arrangement and condition of an individual's teeth are unique, including:

• Missing teeth
• Height or shape of teeth and roots
• Problems with teeth, such as chips or cracks
• Restorations of teeth, such as fillings, crowns, bridges, or dentures

Forensic dentists often examine x-rays, photographs, dental charts, bleaching trays, and other dental records as part of the investigation. Bitemarks on a victim also may provide important clues.

Although popular television shows may make forensic science look easy, it is an exacting, focused discipline. Dental forensics (also called forensic odontology) is a growing field. According to West Virginia University, more and more women are entering the profession. Dental forensics students from 35 states and 5 countries are enrolled in the Dental Forensics program. Dental forensics is the third most popular major at the University. From its historic roots to its practical applications today, perhaps it's a career you may want to consider.