The Brace Place, with offices in Manalapan, Freehold Township and Hightstown, has set aside a group of days to provide parents with a Toothprints bite impression of their children.
According to a press release, a Toothprints or dental tooth imprint provides a DNA fingerprint of a child’s teeth and captures saliva which is effective for scent-tracking dogs. By recording detailed tooth characteristics once a child bites into the arch-shaped thermoplastic wafer, the jaw relationship and tooth positions are recorded.
The procedure is simple and takes only a few minutes. There is no pain or blood involved. The Toothprints imprint will be given to parents to keep at home in a safe place in case such a record is ever needed. No record of a child’s DNA is kept on file. The recommended ages for this procedure are 3-13. It is suggested that Toothprints be repeated at age 7-8 and again at age 12-13.
According to the press release, dental restorations and X-rays have served as the primary basis for dental identification. The successful fight against tooth decay and other problems has led to the absence of dental records, therefore making Toothprints increasingly important.
The Brace Place will be providing this service free of charge to the first 1,500 children who make an appointment at one of the offices. The dates set aside for Toothprints are Sept. 11, 12, 16, 18 and 19 from 2-3 p.m.
Call (732) 462-7676 for the Freehold Township office, (732) 536-4422 for the Manalapan office or (609) 448-6600 for the Hightstown office.