How Dental Forensics are Making a Difference to the Families of Veterans

Did you know that your wisdom teeth could help solve historical mysteries and bring peace to families who have been waiting for answers for decades? It might sound like the plot of a thrilling novel, but this is real, and it’s happening here and now. 

On a recent episode of The Patient Experience Blueprint podcast, hosted by Joshua DeVries, Dr. Kirsten Verostick from the University of Utah unravels the intricate world of Project FIND-EM (Forensic Identification of our Nation’s Deceased with Elemental Mapping). If you haven’t caught it yet, here’s your chance to dive into the fascinating details of this groundbreaking project.

Understanding Project FIND-EM

This project aims to identify fallen American service members from past conflicts. With over 81,000 unidentified service members waiting to be reunited with their families, the project’s mission is both massive and deeply significant. Dr. V, as she is referred to, explains how they leverage oxygen isotopes collected from teeth to create geographical maps of origins.

One of the highlights is how oxygen isotopes can tell tales of geographical history. As water from different regions leaves distinct isotopic signatures in our bodies, they lock into our teeth. This becomes an indelible record of our early life’s geography. When you offer your extracted wisdom teeth for this project, you contribute valuable data for developing an extensive “isotopic map,” which scientists like Dr. V utilize to narrow down the origins of unidentified remains.

Bringing closure to families

While the project is currently focused on American service members, the implications extend to any unidentified remains. Some families, who may have waited most of their lives for closure, are finally finding peace through identifications made possible by modern scientific methods, like those used in Project FIND-EM. Although still in its nascent stages, some success stories have been celebrated, underscoring the project’s potential impact.

How you can contribute

Participation for patients is straightforward and could not be more significant. Perhaps you’re getting your wisdom teeth removed — why not be a part of something monumental and contribute to a legacy of identification and remembrance? Clinics and dental practitioners can also be key players by joining as partners and facilitating donations of extracted teeth from their patients. 

The goal: reaching 2,000 samples

Project FIND-EM is currently striving to reach a collection goal of 2,000 teeth samples. Visit Project FIND-EM for more information and updates.

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