One of a parent or guardian's greatest fears is that his/her child might get lost or abducted. Now a simple procedure at James M. Erlandson, DDS, PA Cosmetic & Family Dentistry in Saint Paul can help alleviate those fears. Toothprints® is a fast and painless dental identification system that records the child's bite for future use if that child should ever go missing.

The Toothprints® procedure is simple. The child is asked to bite down on a heated, arch-shaped wafer. Within a few minutes, the bite is permanently recorded in the wafer. The wafer and a swab of saliva from the child's mouth are then placed in a plastic bag and given to the parent or guardian for safekeeping. Tooth positions are as unique as fingerprints, and the swab contains traces of the child's DNA, giving parents and guardians -- and the authorities -- invaluable forensic information if it is ever needed to assist in locating or identifying a missing child.