I'm thinking that dental records could have been used to identify bodies, particularly if you suspect someone specific to have been killed and you know who their dentist was. Would your victim(s) have been reported missing? If so, then the challenge would be to confirm the victim's identity, rather than to have to establish it from scratch, in the first place.
Dare I ask, what fandom are you playing in here? I'm intrigued by the time period!
Krissie
