Forensic Odontology: Current Procedures, Protocols, and Emerging Technologies

Forensic Odontology: Current Procedures, Protocols, and Emerging Technologies is organized by Concord Dental & Medical Seminars and will be held on Sep 18, 2026 at DoubleTree by Hilton Cherry Hill Philadelphia, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, United States of America.

Description:
Introduction to Forensic Odontology
Attendees will receive an introduction into forensic odontology from a military and civilian aspect and the role dental odontology plays in the identifications of deceased individuals. The importance of a legal declaration of identification. How forensic odontology integrates into the forensic process during a mass casualty/disaster. The different methods of scientific identification. Organization and management of the forensic dental team and how to operate in a forensic environment. A study of a basic dental identification examination to include creation of antemortem record, postmortem radiography and summary findings report. Dealing with the conditions of the remains to include skeletonized, fragmented, decomposed and burned remains. Use of technology in mass disaster management. How to get involved through your local, state, and federal disaster management organizations will be presented.

Operation Noble Eagle (The 9/11 Attack on the Pentagon)
Attendees will learn about the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon. The toll that resulted from American Airlines 77 deliberate impact into the E Ring of the Pentagon. The decisions on jurisdiction, dental radiology, comparison software will be discussed. The mass disaster management response (from a dental forensics perspective) to the attack, code name “Operation Noble Eagle” will be covered. How to organize a dental team to complete antemortem and postmortem examinations for purposes of positive identification. The final outcomes of “Operation Noble Eagle” and the lessons learned. The impact that 9/11 had on future mass disaster management operations for the military.

“Love of Country” (How the United States Repatriates their Fallen Heroes)
Attendees will learn how the United States repatriates their military members who are killed in action, from the dignified transfer to the final send off. Discussion will cover the organizations and their missions, to include the Joint Personal Effects Depot (JPED), Armed Forces Medical Examiner System (AFMES), and the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations (AFMAO). An overview of mass disasters processed at these facilities will be presented, to include the Space Shuttle Disaster, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and other notable mass disasters. Case study presentations where dental odontology played a major role in the identification of military members killed in action.

“Fulfilling Our Nation’s Promise” (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency)
The DPAA’s mission is to provide the fullest possible accounting for U.S. personnel from past wars and conflicts who remain prisoners of war (POW) or missing in action (MIA) by conducting investigations, excavating loss sites, recovering remains, and identifying the fallen to provide closure for their families and the country. Attendees will learn about how the United States continues this mission today. This presentation will cover the DPAA Mission, facilities, and personnel. The current areas of past wars and conflicts. Makeup of search and recovery teams. The identification process and repatriation of positively identified military members. Case study presentations where dental odontology played a major role in the identification of military members.

1. Introduction to Forensic Odontology
   1. Forensic Odontology Defined
      1. Definition
      2. Importance of Identification
      3. Jurisdiction
      4. Forensic Dental Team
      5. Methods of Identification
   2. Dental Forensic Examination
      1. Conditions of Remains
      2. Antemortem
      3. Postmortem
      4. Charting
      5. Summary Report
   3. Technology
      1. Digital Radiography
      2. Comparison Applications
      3. A.I.
   4. How to get involved
      1. Forensic Dentistry Organizations
      2. Local and state Agencies
      3. National Agencies
2. Operation Noble Eagle
   1. The Toll
      1. The Pentagon
      2. The Attack
      3. Jurisdiction
   2. Decisions
      1. Radiology Approach
      2. Comparison Approach
      3. Obstacles
      4. Final Decisions
   3. Dental Forensic Response
      1. The Dental Team
      2. Condition of Remains
      3. Antemortem
      4. Postmortem
      5. Summary Reports
   4. Outcomes
      1. Identifications
      2. Lessons
3. “Love of Country”
   1. Organizations/Missions
      1. Joint Personal Effects Depot (JPED)
      2. Armed Forces Medical ExaminerSystem (AFMES)
         1. Forensic Pathology Investigations (FPI)
         2. Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL)
         3. Forensic Toxicology (ForTox)
      3. Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations (AFMAO)
         1. Dignified Transfers
   2. Mass Disasters/Fatalities
      1. Mass Disaster Defined
      2. Space Shuttle
      3. Operation Enduring Freedom
      4. Operation Iraqi Freedom
      5. Other notable Mass disasters/Fatalities
   3. Case Studies
      1. Desert Shield Navy Pilot
      2. Khobar Towers Air Force Crew Chief
      3. Iraqi Freedom Air Force Pilot
4. “Fulfilling Our Nation’s Promise”
   1. DPAA Overview
      1. Mission
      2. Facilities
      3. Personnel
      4. Casualty Data
   2. Recovery/Identification Process
      1. Areas of Past Wars and Conflicts
      2. Stie Selection
      3. Search and Recovery Team
      4. Identification
   3. Repatriation
      1. Repatriation Process
      2. Case Studies

“Mr. Hines’ seminar will use a traditional Power Point lecture format with embedded videos to present concepts and case studies. The presentation will also encourage audience discussion, participants will have multiple opportunities to ask questions throughout the course of the seminar. Due to the nature of the information being presented the speaker respectfully requests that no photography or videography be permitted.”

Seminar Objectives

• Define forensic odontology
• Understand the importance of scientific identification
• Know the difference methods of identification
• Understand jurisdiction
• Understand how to obtain antemortem records for dental identification
• Understand the concepts of a basic dental forensic examination
• Understand the difference in forensic dental charting
• Understand the use of technology in forensic odontology
• Know the different avenues to learn more about and how to get involved in forensic odontology
• Define mass disaster
• Understand how to prepare for a mass disaster
• Understand how to manage the dental section in support of a mass disaster
• Understand the Federal Government’s response to mass disasters within their jurisdiction
• Understand the organizations and their missions within the Department of Defense
• Understand how the United States repatriates military members who are Killed in Action
• Understand how the United States accounts for U.S. military personnel from past wars and conflicts who remain prisoners of war (POW) or missing in action (MIA)