#i copied dental records for a subpoena once

[allergictocolor]

Writing Tip: Dental Records

Despite what you may have seen on TV and in movies, there is no national database of dental records.

When a body needs to be identified by its teeth, the investigators need to have an idea of who it might be. They then usually obtain a subpoena for the records from that person's dentist. These are, after all, medical records, and are protected by HIPAA.

It's nearly impossible to fake a match (as they do in The Whole Nine Yards). Every chip, cavity, filling, crown, and gap is unique. As unique as a fingerprint. In fact, you're more likely to find someone with similar fingerprints to yours than you are to find someone with the same exact teeth.

#writing tips #dental records #teeth #tooth facts #i used to work for dentists #i copied dental records for a subpoena once #it was so weird #years before they went digital #i know so much weird stuff