Testing a Novel 3D Printed Radiographic Imaging Device for Use in Forensic Odontology

Area of Science:

• Forensic dentistry
• Radiology
• 3D printing technology

Background:

• Forensic dental radiology faces challenges with X-ray equipment alignment.
• Existing positioning limitations hinder accurate imaging of teeth of interest.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a novel 3D-printed device, the combined holding and aiming device (CHAD), for forensic dental radiology.
• To compare the CHAD with soft dental wax and a modified external aiming device (MEAD) regarding device preference, radiographer efficiency, and technique errors.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-four participants performed six X-ray exposures using the CHAD, soft dental wax, and MEAD.
• A total of 432 X-rays were scored for technique errors and time efficiency.
• Statistical analysis was performed to determine significant differences between the devices (p=0.0015).

Main Results:

• A significant difference in performance was observed among the three devices (p=0.0015).
• The MEAD demonstrated the lowest total number of errors.
• Soft dental wax was the quickest method but resulted in the highest error rates.

Conclusions:

• Both the MEAD and CHAD performed better overall than soft dental wax in forensic dental radiology.
• Further research into holding devices is recommended to enhance forensic dental radiology techniques.