Following his arrival in Mumbai, Griffiths had met the joint commissioner of police (crime) D Sivanandhan and explained to him the miracles of forensic dentistry. Sensing a learning avenue for the investigators, Sivanandhan, asked him hold a lecture for his officers.

In Prof Griffiths' own words: ``Forensic dentistry is a foolproof method of identification.'' Apart from being a professor in oral diagnostic sciences, Griffiths, is also the vice-chairman of Interpol committee at Leons, France and hence is well conversant with crime detection procedures followed all over the world.

Talking to this paper, Griffithssaid: ``Worldwide, 60 per cent identifications take place through dental records. Visual identification is not foolproof and in 30 per cent of the cases, it is also misleading.''

To prove his point, he displayed a picture of a corpse, whose skin had turned dark, jawline had drooped and eyes had bulged to the size of potatoes. It was a horrific picture and filled everybody with revulsion.

However, revulsion turned to astonishment when Griffiths disclosed the identity of the corpse - Marilyn Monroe clicked five hours after her death!

Forensic dentistry is a full-fledged science used in crime detection and police investigations abroad. Prof Griffiths claimed that several rape and child abuse cases have been detected with its help. He said with the help of forensic dentistry and molecular biology an examination of bite marks on the person of a rape victim and saliva left in those marks can conclusively prove the rapist's identity.

Forensic dentistry has also helped in identifying victims of mass disasterslike the Lockerbie bombing in 1988, he said The procedure, Prof Griffiths said, is simple.

Clues like the structure of denture, shape of teeth, fillings and jawline are compared to the victim/suspect's previous dental records to establish his/her identity.

And here is the catch: How many people in India visit dentists regularly and how many doctors document the dental history of their clients? Dr R K Khambata, who introduced Griffiths to Sivanandhan, said: ``We don't have that kind of set-up. Dentists don't maintain records of each and every patient they come across. And even if they did, it would be restricted to urban areas. What about the villages where the residents probably never see a dentist in their life.''

The science can also help in cases where an offender tries to cheat on his age in an attempt to get away with lighter punishment meant for minors. Forensic science can determine age quite easily and correctly.