Validity of postmortem computed tomography for use in forensic odontology identification casework.

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Odontology
• Radiology

Background:

• Forensic Odontology (FO) is a primary method for human identification, comparing antemortem (AM) and postmortem (PM) dental records.
• Conventional PM dental examinations mirror those for living patients.
• Computed tomography (CT) is increasingly used for PM data acquisition, but its accuracy in FO is debated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if using PMCT data for dental charting impacts the accuracy of FO identification compared to conventional PM examinations.
• To determine if reconciliation outcomes differ when PM dental data is sourced from PMCT versus traditional methods.

Main Methods:

• 21 cases with existing conventional PM dental examinations were re-evaluated using PMCT data.
• Operators, blinded to original findings, charted teeth from PMCT images.
• Charted PMCT data was compared against AM data to determine identity, and outcomes were compared to original identification results.

Main Results:

• PMCT examinations resulted in identification outcomes that were similar to or less certain than conventional PM examinations.
• Discrepancies in identification outcomes were primarily attributed to the quality of AM and PM datasets, not PMCT charting inaccuracies.
• Operators reported higher confidence in identification during conventional PM examinations, especially when AM data was insufficient.

Conclusions:

• Both conventional and PMCT methods can achieve similar FO identification outcomes.
• Conventional PM dental examinations provide greater certainty in identification, particularly when antemortem data is limited.
• The quality of both antemortem and postmortem datasets is crucial for accurate forensic dental identification.