Which type of records is useful when locating a missing person?

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Dental records are the best option because teeth and dental work create a highly unique, lasting record that can be matched to an individual even when other identifiers are missing or the body is damaged. Antemortem dental charts and radiographs provide a baseline to compare with postmortem findings, allowing positive identification. Teeth tend to survive fire, decay, and decomposition, making this method reliable when other clues have deteriorated. Once a dental match is made, investigators can confirm exactly who the person is and then work to locate family or determine the person’s status. In contrast, property records don’t identify individuals, school records aren’t a dependable tool for locating someone, and medical records face privacy and accessibility barriers, making them less useful for this purpose.