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Press Kit
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Watch CBS News:  Broadband Users - Modem Users |
ATLANTA, GA -- How many parents have reliable DNA records of their children in case the unthinkable happens and their children are abducted or turn up missing? Now, a simple bite plate is being used as a tool that could quickly dismiss or confirm a child's identity. With this new dental identification system called Toothprints, parents can have an inexpensive and reliable source of key identification for their children.
Using the Toothprint system, a dentist creates an imprint of children's individual tooth characteristics by having the children bite into a special, heated plastic wafer. This imprinted wafer also captures saliva, which provides a DNA fingerprint of a child's teeth and information that can help police as well as scent-dogs to quickly identify or find a child.
Like fingerprints, dental imprints are unique to every person so bite impressions serve an accurate method of identification. "For years, dental records have been the primary basis for dental identification, says Atlanta dentist Dr. Shannon Waits. "But with the successful fight against tooth decay in recent years, many children have not had cavities as in the past and, thus, no dental records," adds Dr. Waits.
The Toothprint system captures all the information within a 30-second period. The Toothprints imprint will be given to parents to keep at home in a safe place in case such a record is ever needed. "Toothprints is an ideal identification system for children of all ages," says Dr. Susan Goode. "Teenagers rarely have ID materials, yet teens are the most likely to become missing or abducted," says Dr. Goode, who recommends that children get the procedure done three times: at age 3, age 7 or 8, and then again at 12 or 13.
The Atlanta Center for Cosmetic Dentistry is now offering Toothprints to all families of patients free of charge. "As a mother, I hope no parent ever has the need to use it, but it's important to have adequate identification records for your children," explained Dr. Debra Gray King, president of the ACCD. "I had it done right away for my own children and we're excited to make this important service available to others."
About The Atlanta Center for Cosmetic Dentistry: Drs. Waits, Goode and King practice at the ACCD, featured for innovations in the dental field on TV and in publications such as ABC's Extreme Makeover, InStyle, USA Today, CBS Morning Show, Fox News Channel, Vogue, Time and The Wall Street Journal.
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