Radiographic reconstruction of root morphology in skeletonized remains: a case study

This is a case study in the application of a laboratory technique first described by Dr. Brion C. Smith in the Journal of Forensic Sciences in January 1992. Our study evaluated a human skull that showed perimortem and/or postmortem tooth loss. It was discovered in 1991 and deemed to have no usable dental information due to severe alveolar bone destruction. In 1994, using minor modifications of Dr. Smith's technique, we sealed off the open tooth sockets and injected a radiopaque material which, after radiographic analysis, revealed previously unobserved dental information. This report demonstrates that root morphology can be reconstructed. This yields radiographic information that may be useful in the identification of unknown human remains.