Dental Associates Offers Free Dental ID Kit

DANBURY — Dental Associates announced the development of a child safety support program, which will give parents free permanent identification record of their child should it ever be needed.

Endorsed by Congresswoman Nancy L. Johnson, (R) Fifth District, and the Danbury Police Department, Dental Associates will kickoff its Toothprints child identification program at an open house event celebrating the first anniversary of its Danbury orthodontics/pediatrics practice at 36 Padanaram Road on Sunday, April 27, from noon to 3 pm.

Developed by a pediatric dentist, Toothprints is a thermoplastic wafer that dental professionals can use to record children’s individual tooth characteristics, tooth position within the arch and the upper to lower jaw relationship –– all important information for identification. Like fingerprints, dental imprints are unique to every person so bite impressions serve an accurate method of identification. Dental restorations and X-rays have historically been the primary basis for dental identification, but the successful fight against tooth decay has left many children with no cavities and, thus, no dental records.

A Toothprints impression also captures saliva, which is a powerful source of human scent, making Toothprints effective for scent-dog tracking. In addition, sufficient proteins in the saliva remain on the wafer from which a DNA test can be successfully performed. Parents keep the Toothprints record themselves for confidentiality and quick access.

Dental Associates will offer this child identification device on an ongoing basis at its Danbury, Newtown, and New Milford Pediatric Dentistry offices at no cost.