Which type of record is used to locate a missing person?

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When identifying a missing person, records that can uniquely distinguish an individual are essential, and dental records provide a highly reliable match. Antemortem dental charts and X-rays kept by a dentist capture details that are very specific—individual tooth structures, restorations like fillings and crowns, and bite patterns. If a person is found or remains are recovered, investigators can compare those postmortem findings with the antemortem dental records to confirm identity. Teeth also endure longer in adverse conditions than many other tissues, making dental evidence especially durable for identification over time.

Medical records, school records, and property records don’t offer the same level of unique, durable identification across the population. Medical and school records may be outdated or incomplete for a current whereabouts search, and property records relate to ownership rather than to the person’s physical identity. Dental records stand out as the most definitive tool among the options for locating and positively identifying a missing person.