Toothprints

We’ve been inspired by Bill Tolhurst and his research with scent. Bill is one of the world’s foremost experts on scent and dogs. You can visit Bill’s website www.angelfire.com/ny4/bigT/ to check out his research.

Our own research centers on Toothprints® a product of Kerr Dentistry (www.kerrdental.com/products/toothprints/index.cfm). Toothprints® was developed by Dr. David Tesini, a pediatric dentist from Massachusetts. www.toothprints.net. The Masons have a fantastic program called the CHIP Program that creates child identification kits to help us keep our children safe. Toothprints® is an important part of the CHIP Program. Please visit the Masons’ website to learn more: www.masonichip.org.

In the spring of 2004, we were contacted by Dr. Bertrand A. Bonnick, DDS PLLC. www.thelaserdentist.net/ Dr. Bonnick has used Toothprints® with his young patients and is a firm believer in the necessity of having a current set of dental impressions of all children. Sometimes, dental records are the only way of identifying a recovered body. In Dr. Bonnick’s practice, there have been two instances where his diligence in making dental impressions has been the only way that bodies were able to be identified. While recovering a body is not the result anyone desires, it gives the families a measure of relief and a sense of closure to know with certainty that their loved one has passed and is no longer suffering.

Kerr Dentistry’s literature also states their product can be used to provide a DNA sample from a child and as a scent article for search dogs to use. Dr. Bonnick was skeptical about the use of a dental impression as a scent article and wanted proof that it would work. He found Canines for Kids, Inc. on the Internet and contacted us. He asked us if we would be willing to put Kerr Dentistry’s product to the test. We were curious as well so we quickly agreed. Here are the results:

1. On April 10, 2004, two original dental impressions were made of Chase’s (a five-year-old boy) mouth by Dr. Bonnick. Chase then laid a track that was approximately 300 yards in length. Canine Caly was handled by Linda Dunn. Caly had absolutely no trouble tracking or identifying Chase. One impression was then bagged and stored in the freezer and the other was bagged and stored in a dark cabinet at room temperature. This track was witnessed by Dr. Bonnick and Mike Craig.
2. On May 1, 2004, we took the impressions to Cedarock Park in Alamance County, NC. Two canines, Zena and Caly (both German Shepherds) had no trouble using either impression as scent material. Three tracks were run. The first track was approximately 150 yards (run off the frozen impression). The second track was approximately 100 yards long (also run off the frozen impression). First and second tracks were run by Zena, handled by Ricky West. The third track was approximately 250 yards and was run off the room temperature impression. The third track was run by Caly, handled by Linda Dunn. All tracks were witnessed by Dr. Bonnick, Mike Craig, Linda Dunn, Ricky and Tammy West, and David and Kathy Latimer of Forensic and Scientific Investigations.
3. On July 3, 2004, we returned to Cedarock Park with the impressions. Three different canines were used. The first track was approximately 200 yards in length. Caly was scented off of the room temperature impression and had no trouble tracking Chase to his hiding place. Zena and Ricky did the second track. This track also ended up being about 200 yards in length. Zena was scented off the frozen impression and tracked and identified Chase as the owner of the scent. The final track was laid by Chase. Winston (the Bloodhound donated to Greensville County, Virginia) and his handler, Sgt. Barbara Stroud, ran this track which was approximately 350 yards in length. Winston was scented off of the frozen impression and correctly tracked and identified Chase. All of these tracks were witnessed by Mike Craig, Linda Dunn, Ricky West, Barbara Stroud, and Brian Stroud.
4. On December 11, 2004, eight months after the Toothprints impressions were made, we took them out again. Ricky West and Zena ran the first two tracks off of the impression stored at room temperature. Two tracks were run, each approximately 200 yards in length. The tracks were laid in downtown Burlington, NC–entirely on asphalt; there was also a brisk wind most of the time (approximately 14 mph with gusts up to 20 mph) that came from all directions. Zena had no difficulties with either track. The next two tracks were of similar length and under the same windy conditions downtown. Triple A, handled by Linda Dunn, was scented off of the impression that was stored in the freezer. She was able to sort out the tracks and find Chase without any problems. These tracks were witnessed by Mike Craig, Linda Dunn, and Ricky West.
5. On August 28, 2005, sixteen months after the Toothprints impressions were made, we went out again. This time Jason Quimby handled Rosie (a Bloodhound). Rosie was scented off of the frozen impression. She ran a track that had been laid 24 hours prior to it being run and had absolutely no difficulty with it. Linda Dunn scented Georgia (the Bloodhound donated to the Vincent, AL Police Department) off of the impression being stored at room temperature. Georgia ran the same 24 hour old track with no problems.
6. On March 19, 2006, we again took the impressions out to be tested. Chase laid a track that was approximately 100 yards long. Mason, a German Shepherd, and Bill Bailey (Mason’s handler from Dracut, Massachusetts) ran the track using the Toothprints impression that has been stored at room temperature. Despite the distraction of a dog running loose and the carcass of a dead cat near Chase’s hiding spot, Mason ran the track and identified Chase without problems. Holly, a six month old Bloodhound, and her handler Jennifer Warren then ran the same track using the Toothprints impression that has been stored in the freezer. Holly found and identified Chase with only a minor distraction by the cat carcass. A second track was laid for Mason to follow. Chase and Jennifer rode off on a four-wheeler. The track crossed a creek and was about 100 yards in length. Jennifer and Chase then abandoned the four-wheeler, with Jennifer going into the woods on the right and Chase going into the woods on the left. Mason was scented off the impression that has been stored in the freezer. He crossed the creek and after circling Chase’s hiding place once, he found and identified Chase. The following people were witnesses: Mike Craig, Linda Dunn, Jennifer Warren, and Bill Bailey.
7. On May 29, 2006, we again took the Toothprints impressions out to be tested. Chase laid a track that was approximately 120 yards long. This track started on Chase’s playground, so there was a lot of layered scent. Zoe, a Bloodhound, and her handler, Alvina Ponder from Cook County, Illinois, ran the track using the Toothprints impression that has been stored in the freezer. Zoe had to work through the layered scent on the playground, past a dog, a pig, and three ducks to follow Chase’s trail through the woods. Zoe found and identified Chase without any trouble. Chase then laid a second trail that was about 200 yards in length. This trail went meandering through the woods. Zoe was scented off of the Toothprints impression that has been stored in a cabinet at room temperature. Again, she found and identified Chase without any trouble. The following people were witnesses: Mike Craig, Linda Dunn, and Alvina Ponder.