Toothprints

Q: What is a dental toothprint?

A: Like fingerprints, dental imprints are unique to every person.

Few children have fingerprints taken so toothprints provides a unique record that is safe and comfortable for young patients and gives parents greater peace of mind.

A toothprint impression captures your child’s unique bite and jaw relationship. In addition the saliva that is captured is a powerful source of scent for use with tracking dogs and DNA is preserved for identification.

The initial impression should be taken when children are 3 years old or when they have all 20 of their primary teeth.

We are providing this service free of charge to all children 3-5 years of age. Please call to schedule this important and free appointment for your young child.

More Information

• Like fingerprints, dental imprints are unique to every person, so bite impressions can serve as an accurate method of identification if your child is missing.
• Toothprints bite impression captures your child’s unique bite and jaw relationship. In addition saliva is captured which is a powerful source of scent for use in tracking with dogs and DNA from saliva is preserved for identification.
• Few children have fingerprints taken so toothprints provides a unique record that is safe and comfortable for young patients and gives parents greater peace of mind.
• The initial impression should be taken when children are 3 years old or when they have all 20 of their primary teeth. Follow-up impression should be taken at age 7 or 8 and again at age 12 or 13.
• Toothprints is a thermoplastic wafer that is soften in warm water and then place in the child’s mouth. The child bites into the wafer for 50 seconds. After cooling for 2-3 minutes the wafer is placed in a ziplock bag and given to the parent to take home for safekeeping.
• Hopefully the toothprint will never have to be used.