Figure 10-9. - Receiving a victim.

charting, (2) antemortem record acquisition and record reconstruction, and (3) antemortem and postmortem record comparison. The dental elements of the team are described next.

DENTAL TEAM LEADER

The dental team leader (dental officer) performs the same tasks as the operations chief, only within the confines of the dental team. He brings back information to the dental sections and takes inform- ation to the operations commander and other members of the ID operation.

DENTAL REGISTRAR

The registrar is one of the most important members of the dental element because he must control and protect all dental evidence coming into and going out of the dental area. He logs in and out all evidence, antemortem and postmortem, keeps track of workload figures (IDs per day, X-rays taken, photographs made, etc.), and coordinates with other areas of the operation to ensure that all potentially valuable sources of dental information are made available for review by the dental officer or dentist. Figure 10-10 shows a dental registrar updating a forensic tracking board. He makes particular efforts to coordinate with personal effects, medical radiology, and medical examination sections and keeps the operations registrar updated with information the dental section needs. He also maintains and updates the dental exclusion matrix for use at the close of the operation.

ORAL SURGERY

The surgeon's primary job, if needed, is to expose maxilla and mandible so that the postmortem examination team can examine and chart the dental arches. Figure 10-11 shows a maxilla and mandible that have been completely removed from a casualty. This is accomplished by removing tissue from around the oral cavity to expose the teeth, sectioning the ramus of the mandible and the pterygoid muscle to allow the release of the lower jaw. Also, making an incision in the floor of the mouth will release the mylohyoid muscle to ensure an accurate anatomical placement of the dental films. This is made by the Dental Technician who will take radiographs of the appropriate areas.