A guide to Toothprints®, A free service for your child

At the office of D. Bartholomew G. Kreiner D.D.S., we embrace the latest dental services and technologies. Due to this approach, we can provide an array of unique offerings and capabilities to our valued patients in Bel Air and across northern Maryland. 

One service that we hope you never have to use to its fullest is Toothprints®.

Dental imprints: Like fingerprints of your teeth 

Each one of us has a unique dental or teeth “imprint.” These imprints account for the size, shape, and position of the teeth and the relationship between the upper and lower jaws. Even identical twins’ imprints differ. This means that Toothprints® impressions can be used to help find missing children. They can also be used to help law enforcement agencies to make a positive identification. 

At our office, Dr. Kreiner provides Toothprints® to his pediatric patients free of charge. This is just one way we help parents, caregivers, and our community. We provide peace of mind when the “worst” happens. 

The process and benefits

In a word, taking and making Toothprints® is “easy.” All that we do is ask your child to bite down on a non-toxic, softened wafer of an advanced thermoplastic. The bite characteristics mentioned above are then recorded in the material. Toothprints® are uniquely helpful by: 

• Providing a safe, secure form of identification for your child 
• Allowing for easy and quick access to a child’s unique identifiers, simply keep the Toothprints® disc in the re-useable bag that we give to you
• Providing a ready-made source of a DNA sample 
• Assisting canine trackers in successfully following a scent trail (saliva is a powerful source of scent)

Again, we hope it never comes to this, your having to actually retrieve and use the Toothprints® disc. But there is always comfort in taking the steps to keep your child safe. Be sure to avoid opening the bag (to prevent contaminating the DNA and scent). Keep the bag in a safe spot that you’ll remember (and with a recent photo of your child). 

We can take your child’s unique dental imprint during the next check-up. Call (410) 983-6775 with questions about this service and to schedule an appointment at our office in Bel Air, MD.